As employers begin to drag their workforce back to the office, the offices themselves have become somewhat joyless these days. The chatter and morning pleasantries have given way to the murmur of keyboards and the clicking of trackpads. Free coffee and fancy break out zones are all very well, but if you don’t recognise anyone you’re sitting with, it’s pretty soulless?
While we could attribute this lack of office vibrancy to workplace pressure, it’s usually down to something else entirely – hot desking.
Hot desking is the act of shaking up the workplace dynamic by not having designated desks per worker. Instead, people simply sit where it’s free, plug in and get productive. While this sounds good for business, I think it has had a completely different impact on workplace connection and morale.
The Impact On the Office
According to a 2021 study on workplace sound, offices averaged 53.6 decibels, which is approximately as loud as electrical humming in a kitchen. But back in the 70s, that level was approximately 64.4 decibels (admittedly, typewriters were pretty noisy – but at least no-one could hear your phone conversation!!)
You might not think an increasingly quiet office is anything to worry about; however, a recent survey conducted by Kahoot!, found that 17 per cent of people go all day without speaking to one another at work (and God forbid you actually make a phone call) and that 40 per cent felt lonely.
So what does this mean? Ultimately, people are finding less joy in their work, and that’s not a great thing for company culture.
Other figures from the study found that 47 per cent of UK workers say workplace meetings are their only interaction with certain coworkers, and 57 per cent say meetings are more effective when colleagues can connect beforehand.
And that’s not all. According to the survey company, ‘workplaces have spent years optimising for productivity, flexibility, and efficiency, but many have unintentionally engineered out the everyday human connection people need to feel engaged and supported.’ (Baby/bathwater anyone?)
What Do the Experts Say?
Sean D’Arcy, Chief Solutions Officer at Kahoot! said: “What’s striking is that this isn’t happening among employees working alone. It’s happening inside busy offices, surrounded by colleagues. Employees are telling us they want stronger workplace relationships, yet many are simultaneously protecting themselves through distance, boundaries, and emotional masking. Leaders now face a difficult balancing act: creating workplaces where employees feel connected and supported without forcing an artificial culture or unwanted social expectations. The organisations that get this right will have a major advantage in retention, wellbeing, and long-term performance.”
Sam Greenhalgh, partner on the employment team at Birketts law firm, states that if workplace practices contributed to stress or isolation, employers should need to conduct risk assessments under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
There may also be equality implications where isolation impacts protected groups under the Equality Act 2010.
Greenhalgh added: “From a culture and engagement perspective, the data suggests a disconnect between physical presence and meaningful interaction that can undermine a sense of belonging and team cohesion. To counter this, organisations need to be deliberate about creating opportunities for human connection – through leadership behaviours, team routines, and workspace design – rather than assuming proximity alone will drive culture.
Ultimately, the future of work is likely to prioritise quality of interaction over quantity of presence, with culture shaped as much by behaviours and norms as by where people sit.”
One thing we could all do is strike up a conversation with whoever we’re sitting near, even if you don’t know them! Chances are you work for the same company (or they could be a consultant!)
