Expert discusses how to prevent employees from feeling isolated and disengaged
Hybrid and remote work is becoming increasingly normal, and today’s employees have more flexibility than ever to manage their own time. However, remote work is also leading to increasing feelings of isolation and disengagement – and with the talent war still raging, this is not an issue employers can afford to ignore.
According to Brent Pearson, founder and CEO of Enboarder, the workplace is facing a “crisis of connection.” This isolation impacts the workforce’s sense of belonging, engagement and wellbeing, and ultimately, talent retention.
On the flip side, the evidence for the benefits of connection is strong. Research has shown that an employer that fosters connection is 5.4x more likely to be agile, and 2.3x more likely to have satisfied employees. As we move into 2023, Pearson says that fostering opportunities for connection needs to be a key focus for HR departments – particularly those with a high proportion of remote and flexible workers.
“I think the market is going to get even hotter in 2023 and retention is going to be a key business issue,” Pearson says. “This is where human connections play such a big role, as they have been shown to help organisations increase retention.”
“The challenge will be that the businesses will turn to HR to address retention, and HR will have to come up with strategies that work, and that are scalable and cost-effective,” he explains.
“Managing connections with a remote/hybrid workforce is also tougher. It’s easier when people are together in person.”
When it comes to fostering connection, Pearson says that employers can’t afford to wait – they need to start working on this now. However, it won’t be an “overnight fix”, and employers will need to find the right strategies, technology and tactics to improve connection and engagement.
“Digital strategies can be combined with in-person strategies,” he says. “What we are discovering is that giving each employee a platform to present themselves to their colleagues really helps to enable connections.”
Pearson will be hosting a webinar – Human Connection and the New World of Work – on 8th February 2023. He will discuss the tight labour market and shift in demographics, and what that means for HR departments trying to facilitate connections.
He will also discuss the most effective strategies to help employees feel engaged with their organisation and their work, and how this ultimately benefits the bottom line. The webinar will also present the latest industry research on employee engagement, and discuss how this can be applied to HR strategy.
“Think of this work as more of a marathon, and not a sprint,” Pearson concludes.
“Staff are craving connections. Working by yourself at home may have some advantages, but we are now starting to see the disadvantages as people feel disconnected from their peers and the business. There is no silver bullet - employers need to develop proactive, multi-pronged strategies.”
For more information and to sign up for the webinar, click here.
