A recent survey conducted by global matching and hiring platform, Indeed, has uncovered that one in five employees are increasingly choosing to work from home to evade annoying behaviour from their co-workers.
The study, which surveyed over 1000 employees and 500 employers in the UK, sheds light on various workplace annoyances and changing dynamics as remote work becomes more prevalent.
According to the findings, behaviours such as gossiping (34%), swearing (19%), and flirting (18%) rank among the top annoyances cited by employees, prompting many to opt for remote work to avoid such interactions.
Also, oversharing of personal information emerged as a prevalent issue, with colleagues divulging details about their lives an average of twice a week, causing discomfort for 21 percent of workers who experience “too much information” (TMI) on a daily basis.
Annoyances are found during remote work too
The shift to remote work has not entirely alleviated workplace grievances, however. Remote working faux pas include not responding to messages and emails (34%), vaping or smoking on video calls (26%), and forgetting to mute or unmute on calls (23%). Additionally, more than one in ten employees report feeling monitored by colleagues for their online presence, with an average of seven “eyeballings” per month.
Even outside of the physical office space, tensions persist as employees grapple with colleagues taking credit for their work (46%), talking over them (36%), and micromanaging (34%). The study suggests a changing landscape of professional conduct, with 47 percent of employees acknowledging shifts in what they deem to be acceptable behaviour over time.
Social dynamics within the workplace have also transformed, with more than a quarter (27%) of employees admitting to never going for drinks with colleagues, and socializing occurring on average only once a month. The pandemic has played a significant role in this change, with 38 percent of both employees and employers reporting decreased socialization with colleagues since its onset.
Hybrid workers socialise the least
Interestingly, hybrid workers—those who alternate between remote and in-office work—appear to socialise the least with colleagues, surpassing both fully remote and in-office workers in this regard. However, despite the decrease in face-to-face interactions, 44 percent of respondents report maintaining similar relationships with colleagues since the pandemic, with 46 percent even considering their colleagues as friends.
Regarding physical interactions, the study found that attitudes towards office romances have become more accepting over time, with 36 percent of employers stating that such relationships are increasingly permissible. However, while hugging colleagues is widely accepted, with only 6 percent deeming it inappropriate, a significant portion (28%) draw the line at a kiss on the cheek.
Why are workplace connections important?
Commenting on the findings, Danny Stacy, UK Head of Talent Intelligence at Indeed, emphasised the importance of fostering connections among employees, regardless of their work location. Stacy highlighted the significance of balancing informal workplace behaviour with professionalism to create environments conducive to productivity and comfort for all employees.
The study underscores the evolving nature of workplace dynamics, influenced by the seismic shift brought about by the pandemic. As remote work continues to reshape traditional office structures, employers are urged to adapt their strategies to accommodate changing employee preferences while maintaining a professional and inclusive workplace culture.
Amelia Brand is the Editor for HRreview, and host of the HR in Review podcast series. With a Master’s degree in Legal and Political Theory, her particular interests within HR include employment law, DE&I, and wellbeing within the workplace. Prior to working with HRreview, Amelia was Sub-Editor of a magazine, and Editor of the Environmental Justice Project at University College London, writing and overseeing articles into UCL’s weekly newsletter. Her previous academic work has focused on philosophy, politics and law, with a special focus on how artificial intelligence will feature in the future.
