The transition to remote work has brought forth both charming and frustrating colleague behaviours.
- A survey reveals that 75% of remote workers find colleagues more endearing weekly.
- Top endearing acts include checking on welfare and quick replies during virtual sessions.
- Annoyances include slow email responses and eating on camera during meetings.
- Despite irritations, remote work fosters a largely harmonious work environment.
As remote working becomes increasingly common, a survey by Premier Inn involving over 1,000 professionals has highlighted the contrasting nature of this mode of work. It was found that 75% of professionals experience endearing behaviours from their colleagues at least once a week. Some of the most appreciated behaviours include messaging to check in on colleagues’ well-being and being attentive during video calls. Such acts emulate informal in-office interactions like ‘water cooler’ conversations, fostering a warm professional atmosphere.
Conversely, remote work also presents unique challenges, with over half of respondents acknowledging annoying colleague behaviours occurring two to three times weekly. The primary irritant reported was slow responses to emails and direct messages while colleagues are online, affecting 61% of respondents. Other notable frustrations include excessive background noise during video calls and improper muting or unmuting, which disrupt the flow of virtual meetings.
Despite these grievances, more than half of respondents (53%) found their colleagues less irritating remotely than within an office setting, with only 9% considering them more annoying. A substantial proportion, 38%, felt there was no difference compared to in-office behaviour. This indicates that remote work generally maintains a harmonious interpersonal environment despite some occasional annoyances.
The survey further revealed that workers themselves admit to certain remote work foibles. Notably, 63% confessed to slow email responses, even when they are online, and a significant number admitted to multitasking during video calls, which includes working on other tasks or not activating their camera. Yet, behaviours like eating on camera and creating background noise are typically avoided, as workers strive to minimise disruptions.
In the office, traditional annoyances persist, such as loud eating and ingratiating behaviour towards superiors. These findings suggest that while the work environment may change, certain interpersonal dynamics remain consistent.
Overall, remote working presents distinct behaviours, both endearing and annoying, shaping how colleagues interact in this setting.
