Can Remote Work Bring Workers Closer Together?

The idea of a professional’s child joining a work meeting was once a rarity, but the blurred lines between home and work life has made these worlds collide.  

Since the widespread adoption of hybrid and remote work, workers have gotten a deeper look into the personal lives of their colleagues through virtual meetings that reveal what they have on their bookshelf, to when their child needs help with their math homework. 

Although managing both work and children can be distracting, lifting the veil allows employees to connect on a deeper level and can instill a much-needed dose of empathy. 

However, for decades, there has been an innate need to keep work and personal lives separate. While this can be necessary to compartmentalize the stresses of both worlds, it can also build walls in the workplace.  

Personalization in the workplace is difficult enough, but with the added obstacles of remote work, it can be nearly impossible. 

But it turns out, remote working can give workers the opportunity to be more vulnerable and create a deeper, more holistic connection with colleagues — a critical trait in healthy company culture. 

Still, a remote workforce does require establishing some boundaries. If the lines between home and work are completely diminished, some workers may teeter on the side of working longer hours, which can lead to burnout.