As we emerge from the sleepy, low traffic, public holiday-filled January into the February reality check, the debate rages on about hybrid work, returning to the office and office mandates.
Major US computer brand Dell just mandated 3 days in the office, IBM has the same requirement while on home soil, Comm Bank expect workers to be on site for half their hours.
According to a survey by Robert Half, almost 9 in 10 Aussie businesses have a mandatory return to office policy with the most common (28%) requiring four days per week.
The survey also found that 31% of organisations have had resignations in response to mandates and 40% expect some staff to leave.
So how can businesses get people back into the office without playing the bad cop enforcer and lowering retention?
Understand what drives people to come into the office.
During my time in public relations, I loved going into the office so I could see my friends. We’d have a chat about the weekend on Monday mornings, have lunch together, celebrate our wins and, to borrow a phrase from the great Simon Sinek, sit in the mud together when the times got tough.
And this is supported by research. A 2022 study by Qualtrics found that one-third of workers say their co-workers are the second-most significant reason they stay at their company.
Gallup revealed that work friendships reduce employee turnover, speed up communication and especially in blue-collar environments, reduce safety incidents.
Just taking this driver of human connection in isolation, while acknowledging there are many others, how can your business create a culture which enhances this?
There are two concepts that spring to mind.
The End of Year Party
One of the most significant moments for workplace friendships is the end of year party. It’s an opportunity to let the hair down, put the work mask aside and connect on a personal level. For new starters, they could forge their identity, and for longer term members, take their friendships to new heights and develop new ones.
But this only happens once a year, a bit too few and far between for my liking.
Personal vs Professional Friendships
Is there such thing as a professional friendship? Someone that you work well with, and get along with, but if you wouldn’t see them outside the office, are you really friends? A colleague or acquaintance feels more fitting.
My point is that personal friendships are what keep you coming back. Think of the people you’ve really connected with in the workplace and stayed in contact with despite no longer working together. Was it because you both loved filling out the expense forms (I tip my hat to those that do), or was it because you both loved Taylor Swift, or Collingwood FC, or eating dumplings?
Music has always been the instant connector for me. If someone enjoys the same music as I do then we’re mates within 15 minutes.
So how do we bring this all together?
Speaking as your totally unbiased and objective trivia host… trivia is a great idea!
– Jacob Schnackenberg Chief Entertainment Officer, Yarnberg Entertainment
Trivia works on so many levels at connecting people in the workplace.
- There is a team component which leads to a collective sense of achievement and identity.
- It allows colleagues to spend quality time together having fun outside the hustle and bustle of their day-to-day.
- And this is where the magic happens, it helps to identify common interests.
One of my all time favourite questions is What is Gretchen Weiner trying to make happen in Mean Girls that is never going to happen?
You will instantly see a group of people jump out of their seats to be the first to share the answer, and once that happens I turn, lift my cape and say to the sky.
Guess what, there are options!
Go Big
Let’s run a company-wide trivia night! Book a venue, put some food and drinks on, make a night of it. I’ve hosted for over 800 people at Marvel Stadium and I’m always looking for a bigger boat!
Go Fast
Let’s run a 1 hour of power knockoff trivia at your office. Thursday afternoon, Friday afternoon, something to polish off the week with a blast of fun that won’t take too much time out of the busy schedule!
Go Furious… maybe too much, Go Frequently
Let’s run a series of trivia events for your workplace. I call it the [YOUR WORKPLACE] Trivia Championships! We track the scores across the year building toward a crescendo Grand Finale in November or December. The longitudinal format helps to further enhance the sense of comradery and gives a greater carrot to strive for!
So if you’re needing to entice people back into the office and want to foster friendships then…
Much love,
Jacob Schnackenberg
Chief Entertainment Officer
Yarnberg Entertainment
