Wider community context
Denning and Needle spoke of the wider community context – the sorts of projects taking place locally close to people’s homes - such as gardening, music, bridge, book clubs.
With remote and hybrid working employees often live many miles away from their workplace, so social connection might include giving people the opportunity to create connections in their own communities.
“So maybe it’s about giving people the time and flexibility to attend local community groups. Not every workplace and business can do that so it does come down to what is reasonable and can be facilitated,” said Denning.
Where an employer manages a disparate workplace with people spread around the region or even nationally - as often financial advice firms are - the onus is not on the employer to organise clubs and activities, she said.
However, it is about the employers seeing what kind of enabling actions they can take to help their workforce be part of their communities, and participate in local community groups.
This can be especially helpful to those at home with children.
“Why don’t we give people 60 minutes in the morning, taking their lunch early or coming in later, and allowing people to have their healthy social connections in their communities?” Needle suggested.
There was a discussion on surveying and canvassing individual staff on their needs and what they would like to be possible.
The discussion concerned organisation collective needs versus the needs of the individual, trying to strike a healthy and achievable balance between the two.
Questions that company owners can ask are:
- How do we support people who, for individual reasons, find it hard to participate?
- How do we ensure that social initiatives are inclusive, and how do we engage people? This may relate to people who are neurodivergent, or who have disabilities.
- How are we doing in terms of surveying and canvasing and being as inclusive as possible?
- What do people need, really?
Needle said: “When we see social activities in the work place, its often fun runs, steps initiatives, marathons. There seems to be a tendency towards physical activities because it fits nicely in the wellbeing space.
"There is a known correlation between wellbeing and physical health and fitness.
"The focus and emphasis is on the physical, and maybe the emotional. But we can neglect the social need. This is beneficial and doesn’t need to tie into the physical challenge."
“When we look at employees who need it most – those with long-term health conditions - are physical activities and physical team challenges the best solution for them? Are there are other ways to do this?” asked Denning.
Benefits of social interaction
The conversation turned to highlight the benefits of basic social interaction in talking with others. This is why attending conferences and networking events can be such an important part of the adviser's calendar.
Needle said: “Just chatting and nattering – whether it is a book group, knit and natter, that opportunity to come together and just chatter.
