Organic and organised are the two main ways employees socialise at work. Organic socialisation is where employees naturally come together throughout the work day, and organised is through planned events and activities. Our recent report – the Power of Socialisation¹ – found that 27% of employees say they currently feel lonely or isolated at work, and 77% say it’s important that they feel able to socialise at work. Clearly socialisation is a priority for the current workforce, and for good reason. Establishing connections in the workplace generates a sense of belonging, increases happiness and counters the ramifications of loneliness. Friendships also offer peer-to-peer support systems that help employees navigate work related stress and pressure.
With this in mind, let’s take a deeper dive into organic and organised socialisation and how employers can influence them to build a positive work environment.
Organic Socialisation
Organic socialisation is the backbone of workplace culture, naturally connecting people to their colleagues and fostering an inclusive environment and sense of belonging. Our report found that¹:
These social interactions take place throughout the day as casual conversations over coffees, lunch, or in passing in the kitchen. Taking adequate moments throughout the day away from work is important for managing stress levels, and filling this time with casual chats with colleagues refreshes and relaxes you. The common denominator facilitating these conversations is food and drink. So, what can employers do to help?
Barriers to organic socialisation will vary between workplaces, and employers will need to take the time to uncover what the biggest challenges are for their workers. However, to some degree they will be related to working circumstances and deadlines, break patterns (not all employees are able to take breaks at the same time), and suitable spaces – 1 in 10 employees do not have a suitable place to socialise with their colleagues.¹ Employers can therefore support organic connection by encouraging workers to take regular, short breaks and by providing the space to facilitate this.
Organised Socialisation
Another key and direct way employers can enable connection is through organised social events and activities in the workplace. Not only do organised events remove some of the barriers faced with organic socialisation, like working patterns, they connect people to their employer:
- 76% of employees agree they understand the strategy and goals of the organisation when they participate in organised socialisation (compared to 56% who don’t)¹
- 61% feel connected to senior leadership (compared to just 28%)¹
- 55% see clear opportunities for career advancement (compared to 23%)¹
It is important to note that organised socialisation should not be viewed as a ‘quick fix’ for waning employee engagement, rather it should be weaved into company culture. Big, one off events might make employees feel forced to attend, but the key to successful organised events is to ensure they willingly attend. People are also different; in their preferences, responsibilities and lifestyles. A mixture of events that appeal to introverts and extroverts, and ones that take place during work hours to account for those with long commutes or childcare duties, will be most successful in the facilitation of team-wide connections. Smaller, regular events permit this variety and will appeal to a wider range of workers, cultivating advocacy and loyalty through inclusivity.
Evidently organic and organised socialisation provide different benefits. Organic promotes friendships between colleagues and fosters the deep human connection that is fundamental to wellbeing. On the other hand, organised socialisation connects people to their employer, driving collaboration, productivity and loyalty. To have a happy, healthy, connected workforce, employers should look to drive both organic and organised socialisation.
Do you need help developing your workplace social calendar and spaces? Get in touch with our experts.
¹Compass Group PLC 2024, The Power of Socialisation: How socialisation in the workplace can help combat employer’s biggest challenges, Report
