--- description: Capterra interviewed 1,021 employees on the importance of having work friends and social connections at work, especially during the remote era. Read more here. image: https://gdm-localsites-assets-gfprod.imgix.net/images/capterra/og_logo-e5a8c001ed0bd1bb922639230fcea71a.png?auto=format%2Cenhance%2Ccompress title: Remote employees are less interested in work friends --- # Remote employees attach less importance to work friends Canonical: https://www.capterra.com.au/blog/3070/work-friends-australia-research Published on 06/09/2022 | Written by Laura Burgess. ![Remote employees attach less importance to work friends](https://images.ctfassets.net/63bmaubptoky/HlWf40Y5NyGvfLsypskDGWSd7X70xaRGv_hRBCmSz9k/2baa7a9e9716e9368a4ab311dca7a3f4/Friends-at-work-CAP-AU-Header-image-2.png) > Most employees value having friends at work, but Capterra’s latest survey found the pandemic has left remote workers less interested in bonding with colleagues. In this article, we look at how social events and team-building activities can help companies create a positive corporate culture and retain talent. ----- ## Article Content Most employees value having friends at work, but Capterra’s latest survey found the pandemic has left remote workers less interested in bonding with colleagues. In this article, we look at how social events and team-building activities can help companies create a positive corporate culture and retain talent. In this articleA quarter of employees rank ‘relationships with co-workers’ as a top three factor in job satisfactionRemote workers give less importance to friendships at workMost companies lack in-person or virtual events for employees since the pandemicEmployees are less likely to invest in work relationships if there is a high turnoverThings employers can do to encourage work friendsIn Capterra’s previous article, we looked at how hybrid/remote work affected employee behaviours in the workplace, with toxic traits such as bullying and gossiping declining the most. In part two, we look at how the new normal has changed company culture, including social connections at work. Work friendships may have played a crucial role in employee engagement before the pandemic, increasing job satisfaction and likely reducing work-related stress. But according to Capterra’s latest survey of over 1,000 Australian employees, the remote work model has left employees feeling less interested in having work friends. The full methodology can be found at the bottom of this article.A quarter of employees rank ‘relationships with co-workers’ as a top three factor in job satisfaction Work friends were once an important factor in employee satisfaction and retention, but in the hybrid and remote era, employees’ needs have changed. Capterra asked survey-takers to choose three of the most important factors that determine their job satisfaction from a list of 14 options. ‘Work-life balance’ came out on top for more than half of respondents (54%), followed by ‘job security’ (36%) and ‘doing work they are interested in or passionate about’ (28%). A quarter of employees surveyed (24%) said that ‘relationships with co-workers’ was one of the most important elements of job satisfaction. Whilst this factor still ranked within the top answers by respondents, the pandemic has kept colleagues more separated than ever before. Catch-ups during a coffee break and spontaneous chats around the desk or in the elevator disappeared as a result of public health restrictions. Distance has meant that work relationships require extra effort in order to survive. As we move through the new normal, many employees have continued to work remotely or hybrid. Tips for SMEs: In a hybrid or remote working model, it is important to be attentive to camaraderie amongst team members as it can keep a team strong. Managers may find setting up a calendar for team social events beneficial. Arranging monthly get-togethers is a great opportunity for team bonding. Remote workers give less importance to friendships at workRemote work and employee productivity levels have been fairly positive since the beginning of the pandemic onwards, and hybrid work looks like it is here to stay. But Capterra found remote employees are the ones giving less importance to having work friends. When asked how important it is to have friends or other close social relationships at work, 42% of respondents who work remotely said it had ‘little to no importance’ —the highest percentage of any of the work models. Capterra also found that 70% of remote employees have colleagues in their team or department who they have never met in person. This may ring true for employees who have started a new job within the last three years of the pandemic. Remote work can make it more difficult for workers to experience growth opportunities, and employees may feel isolated from the rest of their team. When working on-site, it is easier for workers to be visible and contribute to the company’s overall bigger picture.Tips for SMEs: Workplace friendships are a primary driver of employee engagement and can improve employee retention. HR managers may want to assign new staff members a ‘work buddy’ during their onboarding process. This encourages employees to support one another and also builds social connections within the department. Most companies lack in-person or virtual events for employees since the pandemicTeam-building activities are crucial for creating social connections at work but were initially put on hold during the start of the pandemic. Some companies began to host virtual team gatherings, such as a happy hour or office parties. But survey results found that, since the pandemic started, there has been a lack of social events for employees in general. Nearly half of employees (47%) said that their company hasn’t held any virtual social events since January 2020, and a further 38% said their company hasn’t held any in-person events.Despite the lack of social events for employees, 70% of survey-takers said they are ‘somewhat’ (49%) or ‘very likely’ (21%) to attend their employer’s voluntary social events in the future. After bouts of isolation and lockdown, and perhaps even periods of grieving, the pandemic has most likely left employees craving human interaction and social connection with their colleagues and managers.Tips for SMEs: Events, such as workplace parties, learning lunches, or games and tournaments, may encourage remote workers who have never met their colleagues before to come on-site and get to know each other. Managers can run a survey to find out what employees would enjoy as a team and plan a variety of activities to cater to different tastes. Employees are less likely to invest in work relationships if there is a high turnoverAccording to employees surveyed by Capterra, staff turnover is now higher at 39% of companies compared to before the pandemic. In 2021, the job market was hit by The Great Resignation, as COVID-19 left many people rethinking their career objectives and prospects. Recent statistics found that 1.3 million people quit their jobs last year in Australia, with employees walking away from low-paid jobs or circumstances that left them unhappy. Inadequate staffing can lead to a very stressful workplace environment, with high turnover playing a significant role in affecting the quality of work friendships.Capterra found that 58% of respondents experiencing an increase in employee churn in their company think a high staff turnover makes it less rewarding to spend time with, and to get to know, their co-workers. Workers in high turnover industries like retail and hospitality are used to people coming and going. But since turnover is felt even in stable industries, it becomes harder for employees to form friendships in the workplace. As a result of The Great Resignation and staff members quitting, employees are perhaps less invested in making social connections with new or remaining peers. If companies make the effort to understand why employees are leaving, they could take meaningful action in retaining their top talent. Ensuring that there is a pleasant working environment through the relationships between colleagues can help increase employee satisfaction and improve company culture.Tips for SMEs: Staying in regular communication is key for building relationships with co-workers, and instant messaging platforms can help team members to talk daily. Aside from having formal work channels on these platforms, colleagues can also create groups for employees to share fun items and to have general chit-chat and personal updates. Things employers can do to encourage work friendsAlmost half of employees surveyed by Capterra (45%) said that the budget used by their employer for social events and other efforts to build social connections between employees would be better spent elsewhere in the company. Perhaps companies can use some of the money in areas that will help with employee retention.As Capterra’s survey found work-life balance and job security to be significant factors in job satisfaction, the event budget could be used on something employees may find more useful, such as extra days on annual leave. Social events do not have to be lavish, and managers can organise low-budget team-building activities, such as a company picnic, a beach day, or an on-site party. Managers can ask employees for their opinions on how the event budget could be best utilised, making workers feel more valued. Although it appears work friends and socialising with colleagues is not a top priority for remote workers, it’s still an important factor of work satisfaction for many. Employers need to look beyond organising social functions outside of work and invest in alternative ways to build social connections at work. Here are some ideas:Remote workers: virtual coffee chats, playing online games, messaging platformsHybrid employees: monthly team lunch, or on-site events during or after workOn-site workers: break rooms, table tennis setup, sports activitiesTeam-building activities contribute to team motivation and do not necessarily need to break the bank. Social events can stimulate a creative work environment but, most importantly, are an opportunity for colleagues to simply just have fun. Regardless of whether employees are remote or on-site, sociable company culture is key for employee retention.  What’s next? Check out our talent management software directory to find the right tool. ## Disclaimer > MethodologyData for Capterra’s Company Culture Survey was collected in June 2022. Results comprise responses from 1,021 participants. The criteria to be selected for this study are as follows:Australian residentAged over 18 yearsEmployed full- or part-timeWorks for a company that has between 6 to 10,000 or more employeesWorks on-site, hybrid, or remotely at their current company ## About the author ### Laura Burgess Laura is a Content Analyst at Capterra, researching and giving insight on tech trends to help SMEs. 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