A study on the genderization of informal interactions at workplace – pre and post

Abstract

Due to social distance regulations, the COVID-19 epidemic has caused a dramatic change in how businesses operate. Many now use hybrid and virtual work models. While this has made it possible for work processes to continue, it also means that staff members can no longer communicate in the same informal ways they could in a conventional office environment. Congratulations dinners, coffee breaks, and "Chai-Sutta" gatherings are just a few examples of the informal encounters that make up workplace behavior and communication. These interactions have a profound impact on employee productivity and mental health. In these situations, workers conversed informally about bullying, romantic relationships, office politics, and a variety of other topics. The traditional office setting also had gendered effects; male employees were more likely to socialize with one another after work, but female employees were either excluded or unable to do so because of societal gender conventions that forced them to go home after work. As a result, women were left out of the conversation about the workplace that frequently occurred during these informal gatherings. It is unclear how the transition to a virtual office has changed this aspect of professional communication and behavior. Although virtual technologies have made some casual conversation possible, they have not been able to generate the same level of informal rapport as traditional office settings. Organizations must take into account the effects of this change in workplace communication and behavior as they continue to negotiate the challenges of a post-COVID-19 environment. The impact of informal workplace behavior and communication on worker productivity and mental health, as well as the consequences of these interactions for gender, are all topics explored in this project. The move to a virtual work environment's prospects and challenges will also be examined, as well as any possible effects on workplace communication and behavior. The project attempts to shed light on the significance of informal workplace communication and behavior as well as the difficulties and opportunities posed by the transition to a virtual work environment by offering a thorough analysis of these problems. It is intended that by doing this, businesses and employees would have a better awareness of the effects of these modifications and will be better equipped to choose how to behave and communicate at work in the post-COVID-19 era.