New research* has revealed that career-driven professionals deem hybrid working as most beneficial for their productivity and wellbeing – while socialising with colleagues outside of the office appears to have fallen out of favour.

TopCV surveyed 1,000 UK career-driven professionals to understand what different generations want from a work environment, and how newer ways of working have impacted their relationships with coworkers.

While nearly half (49%) of respondents said that hybrid working is their preferred work environment, enthusiasm for socialising during and after work seems to have waned.

When asked how they socialise with colleagues outside of working hours, the findings suggested that the post-work pint was becoming increasingly extinct.

• Many Generation Z workers (41%) stated the only time they would socialise with a colleague is at a work-related event.

• Similarly, over one-third (39%) of Baby Boomers said they ‘rarely or never’ get together with work colleagues. 

• Those more likely to see a work colleague socially included the Silent Generation (37%), Millennials (35%) and Generation X (35%), who said they ‘occasionally hang out for non-work activities’.

Nonetheless, the research indicates that professionals still appreciate working in person with others. TopCV also asked respondents about their relationship with colleagues in a professional setting, during working hours.

One-half of all five generations (50%) agreed that in-person meetings were still their preferred method of communication when conducting meetings or group discussions. The results indicate that this may be because colleagues struggle to connect with colleagues remotely. When asked how effectively they were able to build relationships remotely compared to in-person, nearly one-third (31%) of Baby Boomers said they found it ‘somewhat ineffective.’

This was less of a barrier for younger professionals, with 31% of Generation Z and 29% of Millennials saying they could still build ‘somewhat effective’ relationships remotely. 

Amanda Augustine, careers expert at TopCV, commented: ‘As an increasing number of companies adopt remote and hybrid working arrangements, fewer professionals have easy access to informal and in-person networking opportunities with their colleagues’. 

‘Unfortunately, if you don’t mingle with your colleagues, you can miss out on chances to build meaningful connections and gain intel about upcoming opportunities to propel your career. Plus, if you’re not putting in effort to make yourself visible at work, it’s easier for higher-ups to overlook you when it comes to promotions or project assignments. If you’re unable – or unwilling – to socialise with your colleagues, it can slow down your climb up the career ladder’.

Augustine suggests the following tips to build effective relationships with colleagues when it’s challenging and/or daunting to socialise in person:

1. Schedule virtual coffee chats: Schedule regular virtual coffee breaks or lunches with a small group of colleagues or one-to-one. It’s a chance to chat casually, just like you would in the office kitchen.

2. Arrange one-to-one video calls: Initiate one-to-one video calls with various colleagues to get to know them better. It’s more personal than group meetings and allows for deeper conversations. This also works well if you’re interested in exploring other departments and positions within the company.

3. Organise a virtual event: If your company doesn’t sponsor virtual activities, consider organising your own event to get to better know your colleagues in a more relaxed setting. It could be as simple as establishing a book club, setting up a watch party or organising a virtual team-building event.

4. Find common ground: Look for common interests or hobbies you share with your colleagues and use them as conversation starters. It helps in building connections beyond work-related discussions.

5. Use instant messaging wisely: Utilise instant messaging platforms for quick check-ins, sharing interesting articles, or sending kudos for a job well done. But remember to respect boundaries and not overwhelm your colleagues.

6. Follow up: After virtual interactions, follow up with a quick message or email to express appreciation for the conversation or to continue the discussion further.

7. Be patient and persistent: Building relationships takes time, especially in virtual settings. Be patient and keep putting in the effort consistently to nurture your connections.

‘While it may not be realistic to socialise with your colleagues in person, there are still ways to foster solid relationships at work that will ultimately increase your job satisfaction and benefit your career growth’, says Augustine.

Research from TopCV