In the return-to-office debate that has been raging on throughout 2023, one major benefit cited by advocates of in-office work is collaboration. The ability for people to have in-person meetings and create meaningful opportunities that can produce more effective results is often an underlining reason for why employers are updating their office policies.
However, on the contrary, research conducted by Slalom’s HabLab and the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Neuroscience Initiative presents evidence that could feed the other side of the argument — suggesting that remote work can provide similar effective results.
More specifically, the research, which measured the brain activity of 650 HabLab employees in a series of experiments, challenges the notion that virtual interactions are less effective in establishing strong workplace relationships.
According to an analysis of the research published by Fortune, in an experiment employees who rated each other as “close colleagues” exhibited similar brain activity patterns and shared similar feelings and beliefs about their workplace. Similar brain activity was found to be similar regardless of whether the employee was in-person or virtual. This finding is particularly insightful for organizations operating with remote or hybrid teams as they turn the page 2023. It demonstrates the potential for individuals in the workplace to develop strong virtual connections that rival those formed in person.
Another key finding from the study is the positive impact of taking short breaks between meetings. Employees who had the opportunity to take a 10-minute break between back-to-back meetings showed brain activity associated with lower stress and increased creative thinking. This further suggests that incorporating regular breaks in between scheduled meetings can significantly improve the remote work experience, potentially contributing to a more productive and mentally healthy workforce.
Remote and hybrid work arrangements will continue to be prevalent next year, and the research into understanding how to optimize these environments in order to benefit employee well-being and boost productivity will remain important.
