Building Connection In A Disconnected Workplace

Short answer: Remote work can leave employees cut off from colleagues, which adds to exhaustion and burnout. Organisations can help by making informal virtual meet-ups a weekly ritual, making it easy to ask for support, and giving people genuine time to recharge.

There is no denying that remote and hybrid work have changed working lives in many ways. Organizations and their employees have had to find new ways to function.

With the concept of work from home / work from anywhere is taking over the work culture, wherein some organizations have declared this to be the permanent way of working, employees are slowly getting the hit of being disconnected to the workplace and its people.

How does working from home affect employees?

As every coin has two sides, the situation of employees working from home is also a two-way street. Along with bringing in more productivity and employees being able to spend more time with the family members, working from home also brings in exhaustion, blurring of the line between personal life and professional life and another key factor being employees losing touch with their colleagues and the sense of being disconnected to all unless it’s a work-related issue.

It is important to have a work buddy, who is your sounding board. With teams working remotely, individuals have been devoid of lunch breaks together or taking some time off between work and chatting with one another over tea. Though this may seem like a small thing to pay attention to, these situations do end up having greater consequences.

How can organizations help?

With these difficulties coming up, it is up to organizations to make sure their people are doing okay, having a space to talk and ultimately don’t burnout with extensive work. So what steps can organizations take to help?

1. Making workplace connection a ritual – Making sure that at least once a week employees meet up with each other virtually over tea/coffee sessions where work related topics are not discussed. Along with offering praises, like having Gratitude Mondays.
2. Make it easier to ask for support – Many individuals hesitate to come up and seek help and ask for support at work. Creating reciprocity rings will help build consistency and structure how employees can ask for help. When they are invested in each other’s personal growth, we build a culture where friendships can thrive.
3. Make recharging a reality – Exhaustion and burnout are not just terms, but they have a huge impact on employees’ productivity as well as mental and physical health. Making sure that employees get a breather and are not having a breakdown is an organization’s responsibility.

Organizations have a responsibility towards their employees, and their health and safety is a key aspect. It is crucial that every individual in the organization feels heard and cared for.

Related: About Nexapp and Secure remote access for work-from-anywhere teams.

Frequently asked questions

Why do remote employees feel disconnected?

Working from home removes informal moments such as lunch breaks and tea-time chats with colleagues, and it blurs the line between personal and professional life. Without these, people lose touch with colleagues outside work-related conversations.

How can organisations help remote employees stay connected?

Make connection a ritual, such as a weekly virtual tea or coffee session where work is not discussed, make it easier to ask for support, and make sure people get time to recharge.

What is a reciprocity ring at work?

A reciprocity ring is a structured group in which employees ask colleagues for help and offer help in return. It makes asking for support a normal, regular practice rather than something people hesitate to do.

How can companies prevent burnout in remote teams?

Treat recharging as the organisation's responsibility, not just the individual's: watch for exhaustion, protect breaks and time off, and give people a space to talk about how they are doing.

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