Social networks between employees in companies are an essential, albeit usually invisible, value for companies. The connections and communication between each other have a significant impact on productivity, innovative capacity and organizational development. This came to light particularly during the partially shut down businesses during the corona pandemic. These outages had a significant impact on social interaction within companies, which was accompanied and investigated by researchers. Now that many companies work in a hybrid way, the importance of social networks is becoming increasingly important.
Key facts
- Studies examined the significance of the loss of social interaction during the numerous corona lockdowns.
- It turned out that social interaction has a significant impact on the innovative capacity of organizations & companies.
- A balance must be created between home office and office work in order to remain innovative & productive
- To mitigate these potential negative effects, companies should promote social interactions and connections between employees in hybrid working models.
Results of the investigations
Based on a research study During the corona lockdown at an American university, it was discovered that this standstill and lack of cooperation resulted in the loss of 4,800 so-called “weak connections.” “Weak ties” are connections between remote parts of a common social system that enable the flow of new information. They are therefore a central driving force behind the flow of information in organizations and companies.
The result: The loss of social interaction or these weak connections led to a statistically significant decline of 6.2% in the number of weak ties and a decrease of 38.7% in the number of new contacts.
The study also revealed that the reintroduction of partial collaboration on site through a hybrid working mode led to a partial regeneration of weak ties. The percentage of new weak ties at short distances was higher in autumn 2021 than expected compared to autumn 2020.
However, the total number of new weak ties remained below or equal the predicted value even after the introduction of the hybrid working model. These results illustrate how important it is to promote random interactions when designing policies in a hybrid model of change.
In summary, the loss of social connections that arise spontaneously in shared spaces cannot be immediately recovered by simply returning to the office. Instead, companies must combine a balance between working locally and working from home in order to master the transition to a new working model.
Consequences of low social interaction in companies
Companies that work in a hybrid mode without involving social interaction could face several consequences:
Lower innovation
Weak ties are crucial for the flow of new information and ideas within organizations. A decline in these connections can result in fewer ideas being shared, which in turn reduces the ability to innovate and solve problems.
Isolated divisions
When there is less contact between different parts of an organization, there is a risk of isolating departments, which can result in less collaboration, communication, and less knowledge sharing between teams.
Slower flow of information
A drop in social interaction can slow down the spread of important information across the organization. This can impact decision-making processes and impair the company's ability to respond to changing market conditions or industry trends.
Lower employee engagement
Interpersonal ties often contribute to a sense of belonging and social connections in the workplace. A decrease in these ties can result in lower engagement, lower job satisfaction, and lower employee retention.
Impaired professional development
Weak ties can give employees access to new opportunities, resources, and professional development. Reducing weak ties can limit employees' ability to develop professionally, leading to lower job satisfaction and higher turnover.
Recommendations for action
To mitigate these potential negative effects, companies should consider strategies that promote random interactions and connections between employees in hybrid work models. This could include virtual networking events, cross-functional team projects and regular communication between different departments. By fostering weak ties, companies can support innovation, collaboration, and employee engagement in a hybrid work environment.
