Remote work has a lot of perks such as taking board meetings in sweatpants, spending less time commuting and having the freedom to travel while holding a nine-to-five job. However, one of the trade-offs of working from home can often be a disconnection from coworkers you would ordinarily see in an office setting. During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, 36 percent of Americans reported feeling “serious loneliness,” according to a Harvard study.
Research from Cigna also suggests that loneliness in the workplace often contributes to employee turnover, as those who don’t feel connected to their teams are less likely to want to stay at a company. The cost of such disconnection totals $406 billion, according to research. As companies adopt a hybrid working environment, managing the social well-being of remote workers is likely to be a formidable challenge.
One company is trying to help bridge the gap between remote and in-person employees. Wisq, a workplace social well-being platform that recently raised $20 million, helps workers feel connected to each other no matter where they are physically located in the world. By using smart profiles, intuitive sharing, community building and audio lounges for informal hangouts, Wisq creates authentic connections and supportive environments for coworkers.
“Social connections increase employee engagement, job satisfaction and employer loyalty and are critical factors at a time when people are quick to jump ship to the next opportunity,” Wisq CEO Jim Barnett said in a statement. “It is incumbent that business leaders foster authentic social moments as an essential part of the workday. It’s time for business leaders to adopt new technology, new behavior patterns and new business culture values that align with today’s workforce. We designed Wisq to be the platform that makes all of this possible, to provide a space for life at work.”
While the platform is currently still in beta mode, Wisq says it is already helping companies improve employee morale. Users have reported improvements in employees’ sense of belonging at work, onboarding ease, relationship building and support for employee resource groups. Wisq is still accepting beta users to test its platform.
“As Generation Z enters the workforce, they come with expectations of making digital connections in all aspects of their lives, even day-to-day on the job, whether they’re working remotely or in the office,” said Jason Pressman, managing director at Shasta Ventures, which participated in Wisq’s latest funding round alongside True Ventures and Norwest Venture Partners. “Providing a platform like Wisq is no longer a ‘nice-to-have.’ It’s a ‘must-have’ benefit for the future of work in a competitive market where companies are seeking unique ways to attract and retain the next generation of employees.”
