Drinks after work? More Kiwis seek post-work socialising

With more employees in New Zealand working from home, it means that they are less likely to socialise and connect with colleagues on a deeper level, something that concerns employers who worry that their remote teams are losing out on the social benefits of the workplace.

A new survey of young Kiwi professionals has found that Kiwis working from home are still making an effort to socialise with their colleagues outside of working hours. The reason for this? FOMO (fear of missing out).

The survey, commissioned by Bacardi, and conducted by Pureprofile, saw 501 Kiwis aged 18 to 35 share how they feel about socialising outside the workplace. It found that 80% of Kiwi employees surveyed still take in post-work socialising, with 52% preferring to socialise during cocktail hours. Nearly 70% of respondents were eager to connect with colleagues outside of office hours, with more than two-thirds of respondents believing it improved workplace culture. Nearly half of the respondents (47%) shared that it helped reduce stress, and 46% cited socialising as a way to celebrate each other’s professional achievements.

Employees who are working from home, or in workplaces with few social activities, 67% of those surveyed have shared their desire to socialise more outside of work. The reasons for not being able to do so include a lack of time (47%) and commitments in their personal life (31%).

Interestingly, 87% of people working from home were eager to gather with colleagues after work – with 59% keen on meeting co-workers during cocktail hours.

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Bacardi commercial director Kane Stanford said it showed that employees were actively seeking opportunities to socialise during work, reported The New Zealand Herald.

“As we witness a post-pandemic shift in employees’ perspectives, it becomes evident we need to find new ways of integrating both work and leisure for young professionals,” he said.