Countering the ‘them’ vs ‘us’ divide in a remote environment

Ever wondered how to keep the team spirit alive when some can work from home while others can’t due to role requirements?

It’s a fantastic question that many of us are currently grappling with.

Here are our expert ways to bridge the gap and foster a cohesive team culture, regardless of where team members are based.

Create deliberate social interactions

For 22% of Gen Z employees, strong relationships with their colleagues is vital for improving their workplace happiness. But culture doesn’t just happen—it’s deliberate and in the hands of employers to create intentional opportunities for social interaction.

Pairing remote and onsite employees in a buddy system to encourage regular check-ins and support is one way to break down barriers, build understanding between different work arrangements and ensure everyone feels connected.

Plan regular in-person events

Meeting someone in person is vastly different from online interactions and can create a stronger bond. In fact, Atlassian found that team gatherings lead to a 27% increase in feelings of connection, and this boost lasts 4-5 months.

Ensure there is an event at least once a year where the whole team can get together. Whether it be team-building activities, workshops, social gatherings, or an opportunity to work from the same location for a day, can significantly enhance team cohesion.

Assign cross-functional projects

Encourage projects that require collaboration between remote and on-site team members. Jobs with high levels of collaboration see a nearly 30% increase in job satisfaction, a nearly 20% decrease in turnover intent, and over a 20% reduction in burnout.

Investing in collaborative project management tools like Monday.com, reliable video conferencing platforms, and instant messaging apps like Teams, Zoom or Google can make seamless communication and teamwork much easier.

Offer other flexibility options for everyone

People who love their job often value flexibility, with 40% citing work-life balance as the main reason they stay in their current role. For employees who need to be onsite, consider offering other flexibility options beyond remote work.

Examples include allowing employees to buy extra leave, providing additional mental health days, implementing flexible rostering systems, offering split working hours, job-sharing opportunities, or even the option to compress their work weeks.

Keep communication lines open

To ensure everyone stays informed about key events and significant business updates and to avoid mixed messages, keep your company communication channels open and transparent.

Consider implementing a regular company newsletter or a short video update to celebrate targets being met, announce important news, and highlight individual performance. This not only keeps everyone in the loop but also fosters a sense of shared purpose across the team.

Focus on creating a collaborative culture to counter the divide

Building a collaborative culture is essential for bridging the divide. It’s crucial to create deliberate chances for social interaction and collaboration between remote and office-based teams, transforming the ‘them’ vs ‘us’ narrative into a unified ‘them’ and ‘us’.

To learn more about what your employees are prioritising in the workplace, download our latest Feel Good Recruitment Insights Report.