Pandemic effect: One-third of employees feel disconnected with leadership, says report Around 45 per cent of employees said the number of individuals they regularly interact with at work has decreased significantly over the past year, and 57 per cent said they engage in fewer social activities, the report
said. With the new normal after the Covid-19 completely changing the work culture across the world, a report has revealed that one-third of employees interviewed across the world feel disconnected from their leaders as interactions between employees and employers plunged amid the pandemic. One in every three employees feels disconnected from the leader, furthering feelings of isolation and loneliness, according to a report by O C Tanner’s the ‘2022 Global Culture Report’.

The report further found that 61 per cent of employees said the workplace is where they form most of their new friendships and that their social group at work inspires them to do their best work. Around 45 per cent of employees said the number of individuals they regularly interact with at work has decreased significantly over the past year, and 57 per cent said they engage in fewer social activities, it stated.

When employees feel less connected to their workplace, culture and purpose, the likelihood of great work falls about 90 per cent, the probability of burnout increases drastically and the odds that employees will leave within three years surges, the report noted. Therefore, organisations need to maintain strong connections among team members to ensure the best possible employee experience, which will result in less likelihood of fragmentation and will help minimise the risk to the company, the report noted

“The former concept of workplace ‘normalcy’ left the building in March 2020, and it’s not coming back. A new landscape of work and business has emerged from the pandemic, and helping employees feel connected to purpose, accomplishment, and one another-no matter where or when they work-is more important than ever,” O C Tanner Institute Vice-President Gary Beckstrand said. ‘2022 Global Culture Report’ by O C Tanner, the global leader in employee recognition and workplace culture, is based on data gathered from over 38,000 employees, leaders, HR practitioners, and executives from 21 countries worldwide, including from over 5,500 respondents in India.

Meanwhile, the report found that one in every three employees do not feel connected to their leaders which leads to diminishing cultural and business outcomes.

Currently, 62 per cent of leaders communicate what success looks like and 52 per cent make others aware of their employees’ success, said the report adding that only 57 per cent of employees feel appreciated by their leaders. “Whether intentional or not, when leaders don’t make an effort to connect to employees, employees perceive the leader doesn’t care about them and doesn’t want to help them feel included in the organisation,” it said.

In organisations where diversity is high, recognition is an important way to showcase how everyone can work and succeed together and it allows every employee to develop leadership skills, and the company benefits from improved cultural and business outcomes and a strong pipeline of leaders as a result, it added.

Answer ALL the questions in this section.

Question One (20 Marks)

The article affirms that “the report further found that 61 per cent of employees said the workplace is where they form most of their new friendships and that their social group at work inspires them to do their best work”. In light of the statement and drawing from your knowledge of group formation, discuss in the form of an essay, the key reasons it is important for specific groups to be formed within establishments. (Essay must include an introduction, body and conclusion and should not exceed 1½ pages; font size 12).

Question Two (10 Marks)

“Organisations need to maintain strong connections among team members to ensure the best possible employee experience, which will result in less likelihood of fragmentation and will help minimise the risk to the company, the report noted”. It has therefore been established that forming specific groups within any establishment is highly beneficial within the business environment. Explain FIVE (5) predominant group characteristics that emerge during the process of group development.

Answer to Above Questions

Answer 1: 

Working in groups is a common practice within organisations, but pandemic has affected the ways in which employees work in an organisation. Because of covid-19, employees were forced to work from home, and this has significantly affected the team work practices in the organisation. As employees are isolated from each other, there is lack of teamwork and this has also affected their productivity levels significantly. It is important for a specific group to be formed in an organisation and there are a number of reasons that support working in groups. This essay discusses the reasons for forming specific groups in establishments, and concludes with the findings…..

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