When a team works together in person, they have the opportunity to develop stronger relationships, build trust, and collaborate more effectively. This can help to create a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose that is difficult to replicate in a virtual environment.

In November 2022, we surveyed a group of employees and employers in Aotearoa New Zealand to better understand their views on the State of the Workplace. The results of that survey found that 78.6% of respondents felt that regular in-person connection is essential for company culture and 89% felt that there would still be a place for the office in 10 years time.

With the rise of remote work and the COVID pandemic, many companies have successfully adapted to remote work and have found ways to build and maintain a positive company culture even without in-person interaction. 

This has been achieved through a combination of regular communication, team-building activities, and the use of technology to facilitate collaboration and connection.

There are several benefits to working in person over remote working

Collaboration and Communication

Working in person allows for more efficient and effective collaboration and communication among team members. Being in the same physical space makes it easier to discuss and resolve issues, brainstorm ideas, and share knowledge. When you work in person, it’s easier to collaborate and communicate with your coworkers. You can bounce ideas off each other, ask for help or feedback, and work on projects together. All of these factors help create a positive workplace culture.

Social Interaction

Working in person provides opportunities for social interaction and networking with colleagues, which can improve employee morale and job satisfaction. Providing opportunities for social interaction and relationship-building can also improve team dynamics and foster a sense of community and belonging. A strong workplace culture is advantageous for maintaining a healthy workplace and employee retention.

Better Work-Life Balance

Working in person can help maintain a healthy day to day work-life balance. By leaving work at the office, employees can better separate their personal and professional lives, which can lead to reduced stress and burnout.

Enhanced Learning and Development

In-person working provides more opportunities for on-the-job learning and development, including mentoring and coaching, which can help employees acquire new skills and advance their careers and grow employee engagement.

Improved Productivity

Working in person can increase productivity as it enables employees to focus on their work without distractions from their home environment. Additionally, employees can access resources, the leadership team and tools that may not be available remotely.

Face-to-Face Communication

Nonverbal cues such as body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice can be more easily interpreted in person, leading to better communication and understanding.

Access to Resources

Working in an office gives you access to resources such as office supplies, equipment, and software that may not be available at home.

Professional Development

In-person work can provide opportunities for professional development, such as attending training sessions, workshops, and networking events.

Working remotely can offer a variety of benefits too

It’s worth noting that the pandemic has caused many organisations to shift to remote work, and it has been shown to have some benefits too, such as flexibility, cost savings, and reduced commute time.

Remote work has its own set of benefits, including flexibility, cost savings, and increased autonomy.

Flexibility

Remote work allows for more flexibility in scheduling and location. This can allow for a better work-life balance, especially for those who need to balance other responsibilities, such as caring for children or family members.

Increased productivity

Remote workers often report higher levels of productivity due to fewer distractions and interruptions, as well as the ability to work during their most productive hours.

Cost savings

Remote work can save money on commuting, wardrobe, and other work-related expenses.

Reduced stress

Remote work can eliminate the stress of commuting and office politics, as well as provide a more comfortable work environment.

Improved health

Remote work can also lead to better health outcomes, as it reduces exposure to illness and allows for more time to exercise and prioritise self-care.

Environmental benefits

Remote work can help reduce carbon emissions by reducing the number of people commuting to work.

The importance of in-person connection for company culture may depend on the specific company and its values, goals, and communication style. While in-person connection can certainly be beneficial, it is not necessarily essential for every company to succeed.

What is most important is that companies prioritise creating a culture of trust, transparency, and open communication, regardless of whether employees are working in the same physical location or not. This can be achieved through regular communication and team building activities, such as social events and training sessions – in person or remote.

The benefits of a well-designed workplace with Europlan

Workplace Design takes into account a company’s physical and virtual work environments, culture, processes, technologies and other resources. Its goal is to encourage people to work in ways that support the organisation’s mission.

• Collaboration – Support your team working together to reach your objectives
• Wellbeing – Increase morale and nurture teams’ holistic health
• Engagement – Drive results through understanding and shaping spaces that foster outcomes
• Efficiency – Get the most out of your footprint, through optimised floor plan layout and use of effective furniture and space design
• Retention – Encourage your employees to feel comfortable, supported and cared for no matter where they are in their career
• Future Proof – Work with us and benefit from our knowledge, experience and skills, now and into the future

Workplaces designed with expertise and guided by research improve engagement, boost morale, and support organisations in reaching their goals.

Whether you’re a growing organisation, or you’re looking to optimise your current situation, let us work with you to design an inspiring workspace that performs now and into the future.