The good and bad of remote working and co-worker relationships

Many different angles of remote working have been discussed, but how does it affect co-worker relationships?

The way we work significantly affects how we interact with our colleagues. Remote work has become increasingly popular since the first lockdown in 2020 and more companies adopted a hybrid or fully remote work philosophy.

What do workers think?

“Despite remote work’s negative reputation, a recent survey conducted by Bateleur Vantage Point found that remote workers feel challenged, responsible, and focused on enhancing their professional skills,” says Talya da Silva, production director at Bateleur Brand Planning.

One of the criticisms of remote work is how difficult it is to collaborate and communicate with colleagues.

Da Silva says without the traditional water cooler conversations, it can be challenging for workers to have spontaneous and informal conversations and Bateleur Brand Planning explored the issue when it conducted a survey comparing the satisfaction levels of co-worker relationships between those who work from home and those who work in the office.

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Remote working ensures higher satisfaction

“The survey results revealed that remote workers reported higher satisfaction with their co-worker relationships than those who work in the office. This finding is not surprising, as external factors like commuting can negatively influence mood and communication.”

Da Silva says remote workers have the autonomy to set up their home office to their liking, which can positively affect their frame of mind and interactions with colleagues.

The Bateleur Brand Planning team, working remotely since 2012, shared their thoughts on why remote workers report higher satisfaction levels in their colleague relationships thanks to:

• the availability of various communication platforms that allows easy and immediate communication and assistance
• real-time instant messaging that enables remote workers to share jokes and build relationships organically.

“However, the team also acknowledged that communication breakdowns could occur more easily when working remotely, requiring remote workers to put in extra effort to avoid misunderstandings,” Da Silva says.

Having good relationships with colleagues positively affects employee morale, increasing engagement, teamwork, collaboration, internal cohesion and productivity levels.

“As more companies adopt work from home or hybrid work models, it is essential to prioritise effective communication and collaboration to maintain positive co-worker relationships,” Da Silva says.