Employers and Managers: How to Help Your People Build Connections at Work

Regardless of whether you work in a remote, hybrid, or in-person environment, making connections with colleagues in the workplace is incredibly important for overall employee engagement, success, and wellbeing. In fact, Gallup’s 2024 State of the Global Workforce Report found that disengaged and disconnected employees and managers experience higher levels of daily stress and loneliness and report a higher intent to leave their job role.

As an employer or manager, you have the opportunity to intentionally foster connections and to help your employees build relationships with one another.

What are some practical ways that you can do this?

• Provide comprehensive onboarding to new employees to help them learn about your organization/team and meet other employees at the company
• Offer or help your employees find short-term mentorship opportunities – this could be through a formal program managed by HR or by simply helping specific employees get connected to more experienced workers for meaningful conversations
• Host coffee and conversation meet-ups – identify a time when employees can meet virtually or in-person (once a month or a few times a year) for casual conversations
• Be a connector – if you have an employee interested in learning about a specific skill or aspect of your organization’s work, make an effort to introduce them to people and opportunities where they can learn and make new connections

Want more resources around fostering connections at work? Check out the following articles:

How to Build Meaningful Relationships in the Virtual World: If your team and fellow employees are primarily working virtually, this article from Forbes offers up tips for turning those online interactions into real and meaningful connections. “Building meaningful relationships in the virtual world may require more effort and intention than in-person interactions, but it’s essential for both personal well-being and organizational success. Remember, relationships are the currency of business—invest in them wisely.”

Fostering Friendships: The Game Changer in Employee Retention: Do you really need friends at work? According to this piece from HR Exchange Network, building friendships at work can make a huge difference in employee retention, engagement, and satisfaction. “According to a recent survey, 76% of employees with close friends at work are far more likely to stay with the organization.”

Cultivating Community And Connection: A New Playbook For The Hybrid Workforce: With many organizations offering a more flexible, hybrid work environment comes the challenges of building relationships, establishing strong communication channels, boosting feelings of belonging, and helping employees grow and develop. “Organizations that thoughtfully rethink employee experience with humanity, flexibility and community at the fore will succeed in cultivating highly engaged workforces for the future.”

Why Community Matters in the New World of Work: Research from BetterUp has found that U.S. workers are experiencing a connection crisis in the workplace. In fact, 52% of employees say they want more connection at work. Read their latest report and tips for building a culture of connection.

The Secret To A Happy Work Life? Social Bonds–Here’s How To Build Them: Relationships matter both personally and professionally. This article from Forbes explains why meaningful connections contribute to a happy work life and how individuals can build relationships in the workplace. “As humans, we crave connection and a sense of belonging and because we spend so much of our time and energy doing our jobs, the workplace is an important setting to build social bonds.”