Fostering Social Connections in the Virtual Workplace
24 Mayo 2024 - 7:00AM
In the wake of the seismic shift towards hybrid and remote work
models, some of the top concerns surfacing for Canadian
organizations are those related to social connectedness, according
to new research from The Conference Board of Canada.
“Given the profound effects of loneliness on health and
well-being, organizations must be proactive in implementing
strategies that facilitate social connection in a virtual
workplace,” stated to Leah Ringwald, Associate Director of Human
Capital at The Conference Board of Canada. “The lack of guidance on
best practices for employers emphasizes the importance of delving
deeper into the nuances of social connection within the changing
workplace.”
The traditional in-person workplace has long served as a hub
where individuals could satisfy their intrinsic need for belonging
and social connectedness. However, the widespread adoption of
virtual work environments, accelerated by the global pandemic, is
reshaping how employees form connections. Organizations must now
grapple with the challenge of effectively managing social
connections in the modern workplace where physical proximity is no
longer a guaranteed conduit for organic relationship-building.
Survey results from Canadian organizations revealed that a
substantial 83.1 per cent of organizations are worried about the
loss of relationships and interactions at work. The majority of
respondents also reported apprehension about employees feeling
disconnected while working online, and 77.5 per cent reported
worrying about the risk of employees feeling disconnected or lonely
outside of work.
In response to these concerns, organizations are implementing
practices to support the social needs of employees. The most common
initiatives include encouraging leaders to adopt regular employee
check-ins, promoting in-person social events, and maximizing
physical proximity by overlapping in-person days among team
members. However, excessive workloads coupled with the need to
accommodate workers in different work models pose a significant
barrier to social connectedness. Furthermore, many organizations
lack robust data to substantiate the effectiveness of these
strategies.
While resources on fostering social connections to reduce
isolation and loneliness in this landscape are limited, some basic
guidelines should be considered. This includes consulting employees
before designing initiatives, reassessing policies with a social
connectedness lens, and recognizing the pivotal role of promoting
work-life balance.
It is evident that social connectedness in virtual workplaces is
a primary concern for organizations. The challenge going forward
will be to implement best practices to alleviate workplace
isolation and support employee well-being.
Media Contact
The Conference Board of CanadaE-mail:
media@conferenceboard.ca
Tel: 613-526-3090 ext. 224
About The Conference Board of Canada
The Conference Board of Canada is the country’s leading
independent research organization. Since 1954, The Conference Board
of Canada has been providing research that supports evidence-based
decision making to solve Canada’s toughest problems. Follow The
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