Issue link: https://resources.tangoanalytics.com/i/1491735
Copyright © 2023 Tango. All rights reserved. 22 Whether employees have teams they regularly collaborate with or simply work friends they enjoy being around, employers need to recognize the importance of these groupings. Some pairings don't necessarily enhance a worker's productivity or create synergy, but even inter- departmental groupings have value, as employees get more exposure to (and understanding of) other aspects of the business. And of course, when people regularly get to work with people they enjoy being around or who make them feel comfortable, they're less likely to leave an employer for another company. We asked respondents to rate from one to seven how important it is for them to work near particular coworkers, with one being not important and seven being very important. Three fourths of our respondents (76%) claimed that working near particular coworkers was at least somewhat important. More than one third (41%) said it's very important. The average rating was 5.1 out of 7. Giving employees the ability to work next to particular coworkers can have a significant impact on employee satisfaction, and depending on the context, it could improve productivity as well. If a team of accountants, developers, marketers, or customer service reps are sitting next to each other, it's a lot easier for them to collaborate on problems and quickly verify information—especially if they're working on the same tasks and processes or using the same tools. Increasing the distance in the office between employees who want or need to work near each other can make collaboration less convenient, and therefore less common. Note: Increased opportunities for collaboration can also contribute to the frequency with which employees experience interruptions in the office, as we discussed in the workplace challenges section above. Most hybrid employees care about who they work next to As a hybrid employee, how important is it for you to work near particular colleagues? 1 (not important) 0% 40% 20% 2 3 4 5 6 7 (very important) 12% 4% 4% 19% 27% 35% 2023 Future of Work Report: Desk Reservations