Some people say remote work kills culture. Others disagree.

As many companies transition to remote and hybrid work post-pandemic, one concern commonly surfaces: Can a company build and maintain culture if employees are remote?

The short answer is yes, it is possible, but it involves a lot of intentionality and effort, and most importantly, effective communication.

In fact, many companies believe that remote work increases flexbility, productivity and might even add a competitive edge in hiring.

Many companies often reject remote working because they are afraid of the impact it might have on culture. They are concerned that their employees will no longer feel connected to each other, thus affecting their work, and that the established culture would diminish.

However, there are lots of methods and strategies that allow companies to build and maintain culture while being fully remote.

One important aspect of culture is the sense of community. It can be difficult to build relationships with coworkers when you don't see each other in the office regularly. When working in person, there are moments like coffee and lunch breaks that allows employees to bond with each other. And of course, being in the same physical space paves the way for more interactions such as in the break room, while waiting for meetings to begin or even in the elevators, for example! So in a way, working from home takes away these experiences.

This is when companies have to start being more creative in finding ways to allow their employees to bond and form connections with each other, perhaps even outside of the whole work context. It is proven that a close connected culture leads to better performance, and therefore, better results.

For example, Gitlab offers 'get together grants' for employees to use for meals, transportation, activities or travel with co-workers, which is an intentional way to encourage relationships outside of work. They also jave an evolving handbook with all useful information, to make sure employees are all aware of what the culture is like.

Another example is Zapier, where workers regularly chat about their hobbies in the various 'fun' Slack channels, and the company organises retreats twice a year. Being intentional about getting to know colleagues in a remote environment helps with work. Zapier said "We believe in giving teams autonomy to create a culture that works for them." In order for remote work to succees, companies must develop systems to support their employees.

"Just because you're in person, doesn't mean it's positive culture," says Christa Quarles, CEO of Canadian graphics software company, Corel. "What really matters is how a company is making you feel - whether they are honoring their people as humans and trusting them to get things done."

Maintaining culture while remote can be extremely challenging but companies say that it is worth it, as employees have more freedom and employers have access to a larger talent pool, one which includes workers who want or need flexible work options.

References:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/09/01/remote-work-culture/