Startling Statistics on Disconnection in the Workplace

In this edition of the DatCom Business briefing, we address disconnection in the workplace, providing you with key statistics that prove you’re not the only one feeling disconnected from your employees and your company. And we introduce a technology solution that will?remedy it.?

Employees Feel Disconnected from One Another.?

The pandemic caused a major shift in the way businesses operate, with many employees now working remotely at least part of the time. While remote work has its benefits, it has also left many people feeling disconnected from their colleagues and the workplace. In fact, a recent study found that 65% of workers feel less connected to their coworkers because of remote work.?

The problem with this disconnection is that it can lead to decreased productivity, increased employee turnover, and ultimately cost US businesses up to $406 billion (about $1,200 per person in the US) dollars a year. ?

Building close relationships with colleagues is the most important factor in job satisfaction for 77% of respondents to a survey by the Institute of Leadership and Management. People with a "best friend" at work are more likely to engage customers, work more productively, and feel better about their work. This means that fostering a sense of community and connection in the workplace is crucial for both employee happiness and business success.?

However, many workers aren’t experiencing their idea of connectedness at work.??A study by McKinsey & Company found that 39% of employees believe that people in their organization don’t collaborate enough and 60% of companies have no long-term strategy for their internal communications. Additionally, 44% of employees want better internal communication tools. This highlights the need for businesses to invest in internal communication systems and strategies to improve collaboration and increase employee engagement.?

Organizations with high employee engagement outperform those with low levels of engagement by 202%, according to a study by Gallup. This shows that employee engagement should be a top priority for small businesses.?

Business Owners?Feel Disconnected from their Organizations.?

Small business leaders themselves are also feeling disconnected from their businesses, according to an Adobe Cloud survey of 2,100. They report feeling greater stress and working longer hours to keep track of everything going on in their business. Overwhelmingly, they no longer enjoy owning their businesses and would sell them if they received a reasonable offer. This is a concerning trend that can be addressed by prioritizing internal communication and increasing employee engagement.?

It’s crucial for businesses to invest in internal communication technology to improve collaboration and increase employee engagement. By doing so, businesses can create a sense of community and connection in the workplace, which can lead to increased productivity, higher job satisfaction, and ultimately, greater success.?

Many companies are content to use major platforms such as Microsoft Teams and Google Meet. However, better options are available, providing unique features that enhance collaboration and engagement.?

How to Increase Increase Employee Collaboration and Engagement

Most small businesses treat telephone communications and internet communications separately. However, with the right tools, businesses can bring them together.?

At DatCom, we’ve been lowering our clients’ telephone costs for years by providing them with Voice over IP (VoIP) phone systems. Using the Internet, rather than traditional telephone lines, VoIP systems are much cheaper and easier to scale than traditional office phone systems.?

?But that’s just the beginning. Our Unified Communications Platform brings video conferencing and contact list management into one place so that businesses can keep track of all their internal and external communications.?

In the next edition of the DatCom Business Briefing, we’ll be going into greater detail regarding?the features of our unified communications platform. For now, watch the following video so that you can get a taste of just how connected the people at your company can feel.?