NRC
Working from home offers freedom, but ‘teamlessness’ can creep in
Working from home has become an integral part of our working lives. In NRC Handelsblad, Bas Tomassen, CEO of Colbe, warns of the consequences of growing anonymity in the workplace.
Working from home has become the norm. And understandably so: employees enjoy greater freedom, save time on commuting and can balance their work and personal lives more easily. Yet this flexibility also has a downside. What happens to the connections between colleagues when we see each other less and less?
In NRC Handelsblad, Bas Tomassen, CEO of Colbe, warns of the consequences of growing anonymity in the workplace. Less personal contact can put social cohesion and team spirit under pressure. “Achieving something together is valuable. When you come into the office and get to know each other, you build stronger relationships. If you then go through a difficult time — a divorce or other problems — the organisation takes your circumstances into account. Our clients are seeing more employees who feel adrift. I call this ‘teamlessness’.”
These connections are precisely what makes work meaningful. They help people feel seen and supported, collaborate more easily and achieve more together. The challenge is therefore to consciously create opportunities for people to meet and feel part of a community, rather than bring everyone back to the office five days a week.
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