As we contemplate what this means for company culture, it is evident that the conventional brick-and-mortar office structure is diminishing in importance to that equation. COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this, which forced many companies to quickly adapt to remote work and sparked a wider conversation around what’s next.
According to a recent study by Upwork, 41.8% of the American workforce is now working remotely, up from 30% before the pandemic.
What Does This Mean
The rise of flexible work has led companies to step up and re-think what it means to be connected, remotely. This means being intentional about creating a work culture that prioritizes connection, collaboration, and support for employees. Here’s Marco’s take on how to assist:
- Provide a change of environment: It can be hard to pay attention to the same talking head on Zoom day in and day out. ****According to a Harvard Business Review article, in-person communication is 34x more effective than virtual alternatives. Frequent company IRL retreats or outings can help employees communicate more clearly and efficiently. A survey conducted by PwC found that 72% of employees even prefer a combination of remote and in-person work. Why not get outside and try that feedback session on a beach instead of in your (let’s be honest, wildly uncomfortable) office chair?
- Help foster connection: Whether it be team-building activities using unique resources or facilitated opportunities for employees to get to know each other better, it’s important to hold time for building trust. This can foster a sense of camaraderie and create meaningful relationships, which in turn can increase job fulfillment and decrease turnover. Harvard Business Review found that employees who feel a sense of belonging to their company are 50% more likely to report high job satisfaction, and are more productive and engaged in their work.
- Lean into a culture calendar and celebrate heritage months: This month, the Marco team is celebrating API Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month. We find that taking time as a team to honor and celebrate these heritage and awareness moments throughout the year goes a long way in celebrating the diversity of cultures and perspectives within your company!
How to go forward?
We've started interviewing a range of company culture thought leaders to discover common themes and best practices among new challenges surrounding the new way of work. Tune into our conversation with Leslie Crowe, a current Talent Partner at Bain Capital Ventures and a seasoned startup culture leader. Leslie shares what she's learned at companies like Google and Dropbox while diving into post-pandemic truths amidst the "Great Attrition".