デジタル時代の人間関係の隔たり、社員の創意で埋める　　　　　　　　　　　気ままなリライト８４

社員交流　知恵絞る - 日本経済新聞

The steady trend towards remote work has compelled many companies to wrestle with the challenge of navigating through the unstoppable current in the digital river without being left their employees adrift. The anxiety of being swept away by the digital torrent has prompted much self-reflection among employees, particularly the younger navigators, giving them a chance to reevaluate their sense of belonging and self-worth within the framework of the corporate community. In order to address a feeling of isolation and enhance their employees' sense of organizational belonging to boost retention, many companies are reshaping their corporate landscape and replacing traditional practices like nominication, after-work drinking sessions, with alternative informal platforms to build rapport among employees as team members. Through more inclusive and interactive bottom-up approaches, companies are maximizing both online and in-person engagement.

In the era of teleworking, it is vital to stimulate vibrant community involvement in both virtual and physical workspaces. Many employees, particularly those working remotely, are grappling with a feeling of physical and mental detachment from the traditional office environment. The detachment is more likely to challenge and even erode their sense of membership within the corporate community. They tend to feel their contributions are undervalued or mentally unrewarding. That highlights the necessity for an engaging and immersive corporate environment, especially for the younger workforce who often view the workplace as a key platform for social bonding. Their sense of affiliation or engagement is crucial, as its absence is more likely to prompt thoughts of leaving the company. They are unwilling to strive to fit into a work culture that fails to offer opportunities for self-development within a favorable community model.

Kose Corporation is emphasizing the importance of informal social interactions as an alternative to traditional "nomikai" in cultivating a supportive and trustworthy relationship. An informal online platform called Second Home, the brainchild of recent Kose hires, is prompting mixed-generation groups of five, including executive members to communicate candidly, akin to a family setting. The casual atmosphere is encouraging the revelation of personal traits, backgrounds, and aspects of personal life that remain obscured within formal work environments. Engaging in the online 'at-home' platform on a monthly basis is allowing team members to become familiar with each other's habits, interests, and preferences, thereby dismantling the rigidity inherent in the traditional Japanese corporate hierarchy. This process is furthering mutual understanding and bonding among team members, forging closer mental connections

Base Food, an up-and-coming company in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo, is transforming the paradigm of corporate culture through flexibility and adaptability to enhance employee satisfaction. With a team of approximately 100 members, the company is prioritizing flexible responsiveness in its work environment to meet the needs and address the concerns of its employees. It is further intensifying the focus on developing team dynamics through a relaxed and informal work setting. Base Food is underscoring the value it places on community through communal cooking and eating. In a display of camaraderie, every employee, in turn, is taking the mantle of preparing a simple, yet heartfelt meal. This daily shared culinary exercise is serving as an opportunity for employees to mingle, thereby nurturing stronger interpersonal relationships. The lunch ritual unfolds in a stand-and-eat setting within the office space, promoting open communication and fostering a spirit of fellowship among the meal participants. At the helm of maintaining those close-knit relationships is Base Food’s Human Resources department. Its role extends beyond traditional HR tasks, taking on the responsibility of acting as a counselor, ensuring that the psychological distance between employees remains minimal, thereby creating a cooperative and inclusive working atmosphere.

Kokuyo Corporation has effectively harnessed cutting-edge technologies to create a hybrid team space, enabling a seamless exchange of inspirations without a feeling of physical confinement. The aim is to enhance project collaboration through, for example, an artistic endeavor aimed at decorating office walls. The hybrid team space has integrated both virtual and physical team members, providing a cohesive environment for brainstorming sessions. Remote team members have delivered their presentations in 3D, amplifying the impact of their ideas on the members physically present in the meeting room. By merging the physical and virtual realms, a new dimension of collaboration has emerged, encouraging the exchange of creative ideas and real-time feedback across all channels, enabling every team member to evaluate engagement and personal development.