A business case for strong employee connections

 

By Julia Green, Sales & Commercial Manager at Center Parcs’ Conferences & Events

As the rise of remote working saw colleagues work together successfully from all corners of the UK and indeed the world, it became clear that collaboration between co-workers could happen even beyond the confines of a traditional office space, which has largely changed the way businesses operate for good. 

However, with hybrid working here to stay, we recognise now more than ever the importance of employers bringing colleagues together, to build on important interpersonal skills and bond as a team. Today, much of our daily communication is done via screens, so it’s important that the time we do have in-person with colleagues is made special and meaningful. Increasingly, we’re seeing businesses opting to take staff not only away from their desks, but also out of their comfort zone. 

Here are five reasons bringing your staff together to collaborate, connect and celebrate is likely to deliver strong business results – and how it can be done best. 

• The best talent attraction tool is your own staff

While much of the focus on conversations around hybrid work suggest that employees can deliver equally impressive results without needing to leave their homes (or even their pyjamas) – less has been said about the impact on workplace relationships. Remote working has undeniably created a fragmented workplace community, and maintaining a strong company culture and keeping teams motivated is more challenging than before. 

Meanwhile, a global skills shortage continues to make attracting and retaining the best talent a key imperative for businesses. Those that invest in building strong employee connections are not only more likely to retain talent, but also attract the right people that align with the business’ values. Colleagues that have opportunities to bond, particularly through activities that aren’t ‘business-as-usual’ are more likely to build strong connections and want to continue working together.

• Workplace connections a good measure of business success 

Businesses that are performing well are more likely to have strong employee connections – because the shared pride of a job-well-done helps colleagues bond. In return, businesses experiencing steady growth will have the extra financial resources to invest in people, and opportunities for their staff to connect with each – it’s a virtuous cycle!

Employers recognise the growing value of a quarterly, bi-annual or yearly get-together, and we’re seeing more and more stakeholders getting involved in the event planning of gala dinners, conferences, summer socials, Christmas parties and away days. While before our event teams mainly liaised with HR leaders and office managers, today companies are taking a more holistic approach, involving their Head of People & Culture, CEOs and even their Marketing teams to ensure all angles are covered and that the business gets the most out of their corporate event.

• Quiet constraint, the silent killer

After ‘quiet quitting’, the latest workplace trend is ‘quiet constraint’ – whereby employees intentionally keep information to themselves, rather than sharing with colleagues who may benefit from it. The truth is that employees who get along and support each other are also more likely to share their expertise and knowledge with each other. The business benefit of creating a strong workplace culture of learning and development, where staff want each other to do well in their careers and the business to do well overall – is immense. It’s therefore vital businesses create an environment for a healthy workplace culture to thrive, and this should go beyond day-to-day Teams meetings. 

1. Long gone are the days of bums on seats

Luring employees back into the office after over a two-year period of remote working has been a struggle for many companies. How better to get everyone together than to invite them to gather somewhere different and exciting, for an off-site meeting? Being outdoors also unlocks a realm of possibilities in terms of the team building activities you can offer – be it field archery, laser combat or adventure golf. Our own enquiries have shown outdoor leisure activities to be in high demand, with 9 in 10 bookings incorporating something fun and engaging to break up the day.

• Creativity does not thrive in tight spaces

Productivity and innovation are not exclusive to the office – in fact, creativity tends to be highest in new and stimulating environments. Research commissioned by Lenovo shows that workers are 45% more productive after spending just 29 minutes outside. Hosting off-site meetings, particularly in nature-rich outdoor environments, gives employees the chance to disconnect from their daily routine and nurture their work relationships in a serene setting.