2022 Work Trend Index: Annual Report Key Takeaway Leaders should not see a return to the office as the only solve for rebuilding the social capital we’ve lost over the networking-related activities drive business past two years. They should prioritize impact. To reap the benefits of social time for relationship-building to capital, leaders need to make time and happen, knowing remote and newly space for employees to build their networks onboarded employees will need extra and deepen relationships beyond the support. Managers play a crucial role in transactional in a hybrid world. fostering close team bonds and acting “When work-life balance is out of whack, as dot connectors to help employees most people cut out relationship-building broaden their networks. for more urgent matters,” says Constance In a hybrid world, it’s up to leaders to Noonan Hadley, an organizational The data shows employees are ready to psychologist who studies workplace help all employees prioritize time to stop emailing and start connecting. While relationships. “Regardless of remote status, build relationships, with additional 48% of employees say they want to spend building relationships will still feel like a support to remote and newly onboarded less time on things like answering emails luxury workers cannot afford unless there is a employees, who our research shows are and scheduling meetings and more time shift in how time is prioritized and valued by most at risk of being left behind. networking, just 30% of leaders feel that managers.”