In fact, we’ve been living (and working) on video for over 20 months, and I’ve written about some of the issues that have occurred regarding The participation of the workers, manager and need side chat tools. When thinking about “Great resignation“And with the large number of employees wanting to leave their companies, I see another problem emerging.
People do not develop relationships in the workplace and as a result are less loyal to their employers. It’s an issue that builds on other concerns like effective mentoring and the near-total demise of internship programs.
Let’s explore this issue, which is likely to be especially pronounced during the holidays.
Lack of social networks
There are so many side benefits to working in an office that we often take it for granted. These include creating mentors, developing new friendships, becoming aware of unsettled opportunities, internship opportunities, and even becoming part of an insider hoard (so you know what’s going on). what’s going on behind the scenes).
Many people have been able to maintain relationships while working remotely. But the relationships that are usually defined by lunchtime get-togethers or break-in conversations are becoming infrequent, if they are at all. For example, the habit of going to a colleague’s house for dinner has gone up in smoke. In addition, it is often a few key figures in the office that actively organize birthday celebrations, organize team events, and generally build camaraderie that are important to a functioning company. healthy.
When these small events are no longer happening, organizers feel inefficient and dissatisfied and companies can lose the human glue that holds teams together. It was a dilemma; We know some people are leaving when asked to return to the office, while others may leave for them Not in the office and no longer have the deep ties that bind them to the company. Damn it if you do and damn it if you don’t get everyone back to the office. It is a difficult problem to solve.
Social media or MMORG to the rescue?
It would be great if social media, which originally seemed designed to solve these kinds of problems, could be an answer. Yet activities like Facebook have become the threshold of political division and dissent. That development seems to drive people apart, making social networking (with LinkedIn possibly an exception) more of a problem than a benefit.
Video games, especially Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMORPGs), have become a way to get some group members involved. However, that involvement will likely favor those already playing the game (and especially men), while leaving others on the sidelines; therefore, can lead to problems with promotion and professional mentoring.
There is a type of game called Party Games. NS Jackbox Party Pack is an example that could be used for small team building, but it’s not presented that way and doesn’t appear to be widely used. These games are comprehensive and fun, so they may need to be revisited as employees become less and less tied to their current jobs.
As companies ramp up employee acquisition efforts to deal with what appears to be chronic employee shortages, it’s becoming increasingly important to figure out how to safely and socially interact with remote workers to retain them. become important. Employees who have friends at work are holding on to losing those friends. Many employees who fail to develop these friendships are more likely to leave – or be let go and be dissatisfied in their jobs. That can lead to chronic underactivity.
Long distance relationship?
As we move through this new normal, where remote work is the norm rather than the exception, we must find ways to forge relationships with our colleagues. These networks are important for employee satisfaction, loyalty, promotion, mentorship, internships, and they are one of the most effective defenses against Great resignation. These connections tended to happen spontaneously in the past, and sadly, we took them for granted.
This rarely happens now, leaving employees less closely tied to their company, team, or manager than they used to be. If we don’t make fixing this a priority, the Big Resignation will be far more significant and lasting than it should be, and we will certainly see a long-term increase in productivity involved. to collaborate. Because people who don’t get to know each other often don’t tend to work together well, and we need that cooperation to be effective and successful.
Copyright © 2021 IDG Communications, Inc.
