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Even bosses who have been most outspoken about the need for employees to return to the office full-time (including CEOs of some major media and entertainment companies) are still mandating a full return due to employee backlash. Not yet.
Haystack Needle is a remote agency born out of the 2008 financial crisis. The importance of taking time to meet face-to-face Here are some tips for building personal relationships and creating a hybrid workplace that works for everyone.
”[We were] Living fully remote long before the pandemic, we discovered the value of allowing talented people to discover the environments in which they do their best work. But we also quickly learned the value of connecting in person often enough. ” said Townsend Belair, CEO of Haystack Needle. “In that moment, another bond is formed and misunderstandings are alleviated. We were able to embrace the unique benefits of each.”
While most bosses agree there’s value in working in-person, some say they don’t see any value in remote or hybrid work.
In a 2020 interview with the Wall Street Journal, Netflix founder and co-CEO Reed Hastings described remote work as “purely negative” and said it was “not a good idea to discuss ideas.” It’s getting harder to do that now,” he lamented.
In January 2023, just months after returning to the helm of the company, Disney CEO Bob Iger told employees to return to the office four days a week starting March 1.
“In a creative business like ours, there is no substitute for the ability to connect, observe and create with peers that comes with being physically together, as well as the opportunity to learn from leaders and mentors and grow professionally. ” Iger wrote in a memo to employees. .
However, hybrid work plans come in many forms, and it’s up to each company to find the one that works best for them. According to Haystack Needle, time spent working remotely also Optimized to maximize trust, teamwork and creativityWithout accumulating Zoom fatigue.
When working remotely, engagement is a key antidote to avoiding isolation. A designated digital workspace allows employees to connect meaningfully with co-workers. You can use any intranet service with robust chat functionality. It also allows email to be used to communicate with external clients by centralizing internal communications on a shared platform.
Digital conversations should be encouraged, including work-related celebrations such as project successes, milestone achievements, and anniversaries. There should also be room for work-appropriate personal sharing, like adventures outside the office, cute moments with your pet, and the occasional joke or meme.
Other online opportunities to connect include virtual book clubs and writing workshops. The only limits are your imagination and the willingness of the participants.
Even if your digital workspace is optimized, it’s good to make time to meet in person, and it’s important to cherish the time you spend together.
Companies can use some of the overhead savings to make these meet-ups memorable for their team members. Think annual holiday parties, team retreats with special events, and in-person training opportunities with industry leaders.
But not every face-to-face moment has to be an organized team-building event, and there’s still room for serendipity. Team members can travel to cities where other team members live and arrange to meet for coffee with their company cards. For important projects, it may be best to gather a small group in a hotel for a workshop or shared meal. The opportunities are endless.
“A positive culture is an important part of attracting and retaining high-quality talent, and that trust empowers and motivates,” said Verisle.
Companies looking to bring employees back to the office have nothing to lose and everything to gain by taking a hybrid approach before locking in team locations, Haystack Needle said. Doubling down on engagement during remote periods will ease the transition and show your employees that their health is just as important as your company’s success.
TMX Contributed to this story.
