How Remote Work Affects Company Culture

How does remote work affect company culture

1. Enhance feelings of isolation
2. Influence work relationships
3. Introduce cultural differences

Working from home has plenty of benefits for the employees and the company. There’s the opportunity for work-life balance, less commute stress, and location independence. On the other hand, businesses can save on rent, electricity, and other expenses while getting work done. But WFH also has its fair share of drawbacks as well. In this article, you will learn how remote work affects company culture. Keep on reading.

Enhance Feelings Of Isolation

Humans are naturally social creatures, so they are hard-wired to connect with other people. At first, employees might find working from home more convenient because of the freedom they gain, but working without seeing their co-workers can make them feel alone — introducing feelings of isolation that they’ve never felt before.

Isolation can negatively impact stress levels and decision-making. Because they feel that they’re alone, it can make difficult work more overwhelming. Loneliness can lead to other things — such as depression, sedentary behavior, and more.

To combat the feelings of isolation in remote work, employees can change where they work periodically. The library, coffee shop, or co-working spaces are places where they can see other people and feel part of a community.

Influence Work Relationships

Remember that work is one of the places where most social interactions happen. This is where work collaborations and social ties are often established. When employees work mainly at home, interaction with co-workers became limited to chats, e-mails, and occasional calls.

But team spirit, the feeling of family, and friendship are factors that affect employee performance and loyalty. And this could only be achieved through meaningful connections with co-workers.
Fortunately, business owners and leaders can turn this situation around by investing in activities that bring the team together. Video meetings are also helpful in keeping team members more connected. It’s also recommended to facilitate get-togethers periodically.

Introduce Cultural Differences

With remote work, the hiring process isn’t limited when it comes to location. This is advantageous as companies have more access to talent. There will be employees from different backgrounds, so it is also natural that there will be cultural differences in the workplace. This can broaden the employees’ horizons and make remote work more interesting.

But there will also be cultural differences that might make remote work more challenging. This is where developing cross-cultural awareness becomes more important than ever — compared to a normal office job.

It’s beneficial to be proactive and do some research when working with someone from a different culture. A strong work ethic in one culture might not apply to another. Communication is also key, as the way one speaks can translate differently depending on the background of the receiver.

Key Takeaway

Remote work has provided plenty of benefits for employees and companies, but it changed the dynamics in the workplace. By knowing how remote work affects company culture, both leaders and team members can proactively find ways to reduce problems that could affect work. Good organizational culture leads to a happier workforce and a successful company.