The Importance of socialisation within a workplace

Remote and hybrid work have delivered both convenience and flexibility to our lives however, they have thinned out the day to day interactions that used to occur naturally in office spaces as well as conversations with colleagues at lunchtime.

Since the pandemic in 2020 when working from home became the new social norm and everyone got used to wearing a shirt with pyjama pants during a team’s call. During that year depression rates skyrocketed, from being present in around 10% of adults in 2019 and increasing to 19% of adults during the time of the pandemic and lockdown. As we all know, the pandemic caused us to alter our ways of working and in reaction to this many companies have stuck with these working from home conditions. However, life isn’t just about tasks, deadlines or meetings, it’s also about creating and maintaining relationships and connections with people.

Working from home has some perks – no commute, comfortable environment, but it lacks certain key elements such as interactions, sense of belonging and easy communication. Alongside these struggles when it comes to working from home there is also the hard to differ line of when your house feels like a workplace and when it feels like a relaxing place

Coworking spaces provide the ideal solution for today’s workers, they offer both focus and connection, for example the Woolpack House offers:

-              Personal Amenities - High-speed internet, comfortable desks, free coffee and snacks and professional meeting rooms alongside breakout areas

-              Effortless networking – get to know your office mates over a coffee or simple chats and just like that, a connection made.

-              Flexible memberships – have time to yourself at for the first half of the week by working from home and then still maintain the social aspect during the other half of the week working form the office.

Remote work offers flexibility, but it also highlights how important being around others is. Unfortunately, it has shown how easily people can become lonely or depressed due to a lack of social interaction during the working day. The quite hum of coworkers during the day may get slightly distracting now and then but when they aren’t there you tend to miss them, interactions aren’t distractions, they are essential for a fulfilling workday.

Why Socialisation Matters at Work

Many people assume that small talk, casual conversations, or coffee breaks are simply “time wasters.” However, research consistently shows that socialising at work has a direct impact on productivity and creativity. Employees who feel connected to their colleagues or workplace companions are not only more engaged but are also more motivated to collaborate and expand their ideas further. A five minute chat can spark a new idea that may never have come up in a structured meeting. In this way, workplace socialisation doesn’t just build connections and relationships, it drives innovation.

Mental Health and Wellbeing

Social interaction isn’t just a nice thing to have; it is a core component of mental wellbeing. Humans are born as social creatures who learn off social interactions, therefore a lack of meaningful connections can lead to loneliness, stress and even burnout. While working from home might feel like a luxury in the short term, over time the absence of face to face contact can leave people feeling isolated. Having colleagues to share a laugh with, discuss challenges, or simply having someone ask how your weekend was plays a huge role in maintaining a good mental health.

Hybrid Solutions

The future of work doesn’t have to be an all or nothing choice between remote and office-based working arrangements, for many people the perfect balance lies between the two. Coworking spaces such as the Woolpack House give you the flexibility you need by offering a 2/3 day memberships, this way you’re able to have that socialising factor that’s very much needed in our lives alongside the quite downtime for the high focus working days.

Coworking brings out the best of both worlds, the focus and flexibility of working remotely combined with the social interaction and sense of community that come from being around like-minded people.

As the way we work continues to shift, one thing remains clear, people thrive when they feel part of something. The value of genuine human connection goes far beyond productivity or collaboration; it gives meaning to our everyday routines and turns work into something more enjoyable than checklists and tasks. Whether you find that connection in a busy office, a shared coworking space like the Woolpack House, or over a quite coffee with a colleague, it’s those simple moments of togetherness that make the modern work experience truly complete.