Impact of Remote Working on Marketer Relationships

Career & Salary 24 Relationship building

Four years on from lockdown and it is hard to overstate the impact Covid has had on the working lives of marketers across the UK.

Unfortunately, not everyone is reaping the rewards of working from home. According to Our Website's 2024 Career & Salary Survey, 56.5% of marketers feel that networking and relationship building opportunities have been negatively affected by remote work.

On the other hand, a smaller percentage of the surveyed marketers, 37.1%, believe that working from home has not hindered their ability to build relationships.

Concerns about strengthening relationships and building company culture may be contributing to the increasing trend of returning to the office this year compared to last, as reported by 54% of marketers.

The main driving force behind this return to the office is the desire for more effective face-to-face collaboration, as stated by 71% of respondents. This is closely followed by the need to nurture company culture (59.8%) and enhance the social aspect of work (44.7%).

Over 1/3 of marketers (35.9%) believe that working from the office will boost employee productivity, while 33.3% see utilizing office space as the main reason. Additionally, 33.2% of respondents work for companies that value office work for networking and building professional relationships.

On the other hand, employee growth and career development (20.7%) and supporting better staff mental health (13.9%) are not top priorities for most businesses.

The debate over the best balance between office and remote working continues to spark disagreement. According to Our Website's research, the most common arrangement is three days in the office (25.2%), closely followed by two days (24.3%). However, major employers are now taking a different approach.

Boots, for example, has announced that its 3,900 head office employees will be required to work in the office five days a week starting in September. The decision was explained by the retailer's CEO Seb James, who believes that the informal office catch-ups are more beneficial for fostering the "unique Boots culture" compared to the "enforced formality" of remote meetings.

Nationwide recently told employees that they must come into the office at least two days a week. On the other hand, Amazon is taking a stricter stance by blocking promotions for employees who do not come into the office at least three days a week.

These contrasting policies highlight the ongoing challenge that companies of all sizes face in determining the best approach to hybrid working for their employees.

We are excited to share with you a detailed analysis of data categorized by gender, age, and company size. Additionally, we will delve into how marketers perceive changes in work patterns. Stay tuned for more news and features to come.

Our website has released a range of exclusive news and features derived from the results of the 2024 Career and Salary Survey. Topics include the effects of the skills gap and ageism in the marketing industry. Click here to explore all the content we have published thus far.

Editor's P/S:

The article highlights the significant impact of remote work on marketers, particularly in terms of networking and relationship building. While some believe that working from home has not hindered their abilities, a majority report negative effects. This has led to an increasing trend of returning to the office, driven by the desire for face-to-face collaboration, company culture, and social interaction.

However, the debate over the optimal balance between office and remote work continues, with different companies adopting varying approaches. Some, like Boots and Amazon, emphasize the importance of in-office presence, while others, like Nationwide, allow for more flexibility. This ongoing challenge reflects the need for organizations to find the right balance that meets their specific needs while ensuring employee satisfaction and productivity.