A number of recent studies have found that employee burnout hinders employee productivity, motivation and happiness. Related research shows that hybrid and remote workers still report feeling disconnected from each other, with many missing the friendships they had with colleagues before the pandemic hit. I’m here.
One way some HR and business line managers are coping with these troubling trends is by adopting new technology platforms that can foster not only collaboration but employee connection. This allows employees to rebuild lost relationships and take a carefree break from their day-to-day work.
By boosting morale and morale, organizations expect increased productivity, performance and employee retention.
New community-building app from Microsoft
Enabling employees to reconnect across the organization is one of the reasons Microsoft created the soon to be released Viva Engage product. The app builds on the foundation created by the Yammer platform to nurture community and camaraderie within the organization and provide employees with tools for personal expression, helping them navigate their daily business lives. It provides a way to make connections that go beyond interactions.
Dan Holme, head of product at Viva Engage, said Microsoft’s research shows a strong need for such a product. A recent survey by a tech giant found that 43% of his leaders believe relationship building is their biggest challenge with hybrid and remote work.
“When we talk to our clients, they tell us that the connections between different groups and functions within their companies, the social fabric of their organizations, have been hit during the pandemic.” , showed that the relationships between business silos were fraying: while people were connecting virtually for work meetings, all the other types of relationships normally formed in the office were It was gone.”
Viva Engage is a ‘digital twin’ of public spaces, Holme said, designed to be the historic water coolers found in physical offices. “It’s a place where people meet, form or strengthen social bonds, and exchange ideas and knowledge on the fly,” he explained. I’m here. This means that it integrates with your favorite productivity and communication platforms, and users don’t need to log into a separate app to get the benefits of the tool.
Holme said there are four areas Microsoft believes Engage can help companies with.
- Building communities, or creating broader social structures where employees come together to build a sense of belonging and inclusion.
- Humanizing leaders and shaping culture fosters more effective engagement and relationships between leaders and employees.
- Help employees build stronger personal networks across the organization, which helps them advance their careers.
- Facilitate knowledge sharing and distribution within the enterprise.
A feature of the app called Storylines allows employees to share their unique perspectives, passions and experiences at scale, Home said. “We believe it will help employees build and strengthen their personal networks across companies,” he said.
According to Holme, the Engage app allows leaders to share news and strategies with employees, foster two-way discussions, and make employees feel more heard and involved. I can. Preview app reports with Engage He previews users, shares weekly updates with staff via video, and highlights cultural moments like Black History Month.
“It’s been well received because it’s personal and you can hear things in the leader’s own unique voice.
Use games to connect hybrid teams
Some HR leaders are looking to more creative ways to build friendships and create stronger connections in hybrid and remote work teams. Jennifer Zacks, people operations lead at Avise, a Boston-based financial software company, uses her platform for games from New York City-based vendor Luna Park to build team spirit among distributed employees, Giving you a break from your daily routine.
Employees log on to the Luna Park platform to participate in hour-long sessions and play up to 10 interactive mini-games moderated by professional hosts. Games can include everything from word games to trivia to arcade-style contests, allowing participants to collaborate with colleagues they wouldn’t normally interact with and participate in friendly competition.
“The Luna Park platform provides an innovative way for team members to connect, interact and have fun outside of regular meetings,” said Zacks. “We believe that building stronger relationships between employees will also lead to increased productivity and better collaboration.”
Luna Park Platform co-founders Arlen Mermel and Ben Anderson are committed to helping hybrid and remote teams strengthen interpersonal relationships, boost morale, and enable teammates to build problem-solving skills together during the game. has created the concept of “We wanted to create broader social connections between companies,” said Marmel.
The platform can accommodate up to 300 players and the games can be customized to the client’s wishes. The entry fee is $500 for his team of up to 100 people, and there is also an on-demand version of the game and a live concept.
Dave Zielinski is a principal at Skiwood Communications, a business writing and editing company in Minneapolis.
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