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We spend a huge chunk of our lives working; it’s an inevitable truth, so who we work with plays a major role in our happiness, productivity, and overall well-being.
A Gallup study showed that employees with strong workplace relationships are 7 times more engaged in their jobs. On top of this, an Oxford study found that happy workers are 13% more productive. Having people around us makes all the difference. But what is the way forward here in a world that has seen an astronomical rise in remote work? Is a return-to-office policy really wanted? Or can a coworking space bridge the gap?
The Benefits of Workplace Connections
Boost Productivity: A sense of belonging and community has been shown to increase motivation and performance.
Improve Wellbeing: A Harvard Business Review study found that people who have a best friend at work are twice as likely to be satisfied with their jobs.
Encourage Collaboration: A friendly work environment leads to more idea-sharing, problem-solving, and creativity.
Reduce Loneliness: The British Red Cross reports that 33% of UK adults feel lonely, and workplace connections can play a key role in tackling this.
Make Work More Enjoyable: Work is just better when you can have a laugh.
Remote Work & The Little Moments That Matter
In an episode of The New York Times podcast, The Daily, business reporter Emma Goldberg talks about the importance of the little interactions, “There’s been another study about the effect of remote work on what we call loose ties, which is people you actually don’t know that well and maybe don’t work with closely, but who actually could end up having a big effect on your career through some little idea they give you or an introduction they make for you or just a little bit of unsolicited help". It’s these little moments that can unexpectedly affect career growth. Remote work shuts you off from these unique conversations, collaborations, opportunities, and insights.
While academic research highlights the benefits of workplace relationships, everyday discussions online reveal a more complex picture.
The Social Issue & Loneliness Epidemic
Interestingly, when looking into this topic online, there is an overwhelming support for remote work – and this is perfectly understandable. Remote work is great for those with long commutes to offices, busy schedules, and children, and gives the opportunity to relax in your own environment. A Reddit post on r/The10thDentist, a subreddit dedicated to posting controversial opinions, titled ‘Remote Work Contributes to the Loneliness Epidemic More than People Would Like to Admit’, raised several good arguments for the circumstantial differences between people with established friendship groups and those without who work remotely.
Whilst the user freely admits they prefer remote work after having experienced both remote and in-office work, they discuss the social implications of remote work, especially after the COVID pandemic.
They mention that they met their partner in college and many of their friends through work, despite now working in completely different firms/industries. They continue, “I don’t believe I would have formed those connections if our interactions were limited to Teams messages or weekly team video calls. Those bonds were formed largely by being in the same environment and situation, helping each other, and getting to know each other organically, which remote work is not ideal for… compound that with the fact that the affordability crisis has made it so that younger people seldom go out anymore, and you start to see the picture I am painting”.
Another user responded to the post, “Sometimes I feel lonely, but then I remember how much I hate office politics, don’t care for my colleagues…, the noise in the office…”, so are coworking spaces the middle ground answer to this issue?
The problem is, there will never be one solution that works for everyone. You have people such as the user who made the Reddit post, and then other users in the comments telling the original poster to “just get a hobby” and on a similar thread a user saying “I think what it’s [remote work] actually doing is exposing the amount of people who relied on a hostage audience for any slightly meaningful social interaction”.
Coworking spaces can offer a middle ground to those looking to get out of the house and away from the loneliness, whilst not returning to the rigorous structure of a standard office with a sea of cubicles and an excessively long commute.
Coworking Spaces – A Loneliness Solution?
The reality is that no single work model suits everyone. Some people thrive in remote environments, while others miss the social energy and spontaneous collaboration of a shared workplace. Coworking spaces offer a potential middle ground, providing structure, community, and opportunity without the rigidity of traditional offices. As the future of work continues to evolve, these hybrid environments may become an increasingly important solution for balancing productivity, flexibility, and human connection.
