Corporate events are now even more important for business success now that people are spending much less time in the office.  In this article look at how the world of work has moved on and why virtual get-togethers are no substitute for the real thing.

Hybrid working is here to stay

Office life as we once knew has gone for good.  Before the pandemic about 5% of us were working from home (WFH) but by spring 2020 the figure was about 60%.  Although the shift was a shock people were quick to adapt and adopt virtual meeting technologies that had previously been somewhat unpopular.  Productivity didn’t suffer and many discovered that the new arrangements provided better work/life balance.

Lockdowns are hopefully behind us now but most organisations and employees are in no hurry to go back to the old ways.  Hybrid working, where people split their working life between home and the office, is the new normal.  Surveys suggest that most respondents would like to split their hours equally - 50% at home, 50% in the office.  In many parts of the country offices are two thirds empty and research by the BBC revealed that fifty of the biggest UK employers have said they have no plans to return all staff to the office full-time in the near future.  Data collected by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) found that 84 per cent of managers said their companies had adopted some form of hybrid working – around two-thirds of which had been prompted by the pandemic.

The effect on employee engagement has been largely positive

Employee engagement is one of those terms you hear a lot these days.  What, exactly, does it mean?  It basically describes the level of enthusiasm and dedication a worker feels toward their job and employer.  Those with a high level of engagement care about helping the company perform well, their morale is good and they are not just doing the bare minimum to get paid at the end of the month.  It therefore follows that companies try very hard to ensure high levels of employee engagement.

Initially many managers worried that hybrid working would be detrimental to employee engagement.  They feared that if people weren’t in the office, face to face with colleagues and bosses, this would reduce morale, destroy team spirit and encourage people to be less productive.  In fact, the early indications show the exact opposite.  Most people enjoy the flexibility and convenience this brings.  They don’t miss the daily commute or in-person meetings.  It gives them the best of both – some personal with colleagues but also more time at home. 

Most managers and employees are therefore fairly positive about hybrid working so in that sense it is having a positive effect on employee engagement.

There is one thing people miss about the office

However, while hybrid working has generally got the thumbs up it does have at least one major downside.  Humans are social beings and the workplace can satisfy that basic need for face-to face interaction.  The office can be a fun place, somewhere you build friendships, have a laugh, enjoy a bit of gossip and get some enjoyable personal contact.

 A lot of people have found themselves missing this aspect of the previous arrangement.  A survey by electrical retailer Curry’s found that “a lack of in-person interaction, and the reduced social aspect, both ranked high in the list of things people dislike about working from home. 16-24-year-olds are the most likely to report feeling lonely when they’re working from home, though 45-54-year-olds are the true social butterflies, missing the social aspect the most.”  This could explain why the same report showed that 25% of people would prefer to work in the office full time and that only 19% want to work from home 5 days a week in 2022. 

To put it bluntly, the more time people spend working from home the lonelier they get.  And loneliness is not good for employees’ engagement.  It’s actually a warning sign that those employees are feeing disengaged.  However, because they are working remotely, it’s a sign that’s hard for managers to spot and put right.  Over time this loneliness and disengagement, unless addressed, is sure to get worse.  The wellbeing and mental health of these workers is going to suffer and not only will productivity and morale certain to plummet but some serious HR issues are going to manifest themselves in terms of staff turnover and even claims for compensation. 

Corporate get togethers are more important than ever

BC, before Covid, events like team building sessions, retirement celebrations, end of year parties, company away-days and off-site training sessions were a regular part of corporate life.  Like so much else they were put on hold during the pandemic – but are now returning. 

In the past they were considered as something of a nice-to-have.  With Hybrid working they are an essential – a vital means of boosting employee engagement and building team spirit in organisations where people seldom spend time in the same room with colleagues.  There are many ways to encourage greater employee engagement, including communicating expectations clearly, offering rewards and promotions for excellent work, keeping employees informed about the company's performance, and providing regular feedback.  

Trying to do this in a virtual meeting is not nearly as effective as getting everyone together in an enjoyable social environment – building relationships, getting feedback and gauging feelings works so much better over a coffee/beer than over zoom or teams!  What’s more, if you put together a proper event in a great location you make employees feel valued and respected – it sends a clear message that their views are being heard and that their ideas are being encouraged.

Clevedon Hall – the perfect venue for all kinds of corporate event

Whatever event you have in mind few venues rise to the occasion as superbly as Clevedon Hall.  The building and setting is impressive, the location convenient.  You’ll also find a great range of different sized rooms to choose from while the expansive gardens are ideal for breakout sessions, outdoor activities and summer entertaining. We’ve also invested heavily in providing the latest technology, resources and furnishings.  The food and refreshments offering is also exceptional – we have our own Michelin star trained chef.  Unlike a hotel you can have exclusive use of the facilities but we do have twenty-five superb bedroom if you want to stay the night.  Last, but not least, there’s our highly experienced corporate entertainment team to help you put on an event that’s a roaring success.  Got an event in mind?  Give them a call and start picking their brains!