Employees report feeling disconnected, even in a full office. 

By Gillian Manning 

Communication isn’t just an overused resume soft skill; it’s a necessary tool that employees feel is largely missed out on.  

A report from Kahoot! surveyed 4,000 working adults over the age of 25 in the U.K. and U.S., and concluded that the number one most-requested manager improvement isn’t more office parties—it’s clear and effective communication.  

“Workplaces have spent years optimizing for productivity, flexibility, and efficiency, but many have unintentionally engineered out the everyday human connection that team members need to feel engaged and supported,” says Sean D’Arcy, chief solutions officer at Kahoot!. “Leaders now face a difficult balancing act creating workplaces where employees feel connected and supported without forcing an artificial culture or unwanted social expectations.” 

The survey also found: 

  • one-third of U.K. employees and fewer than half of U.S. employees are satisfied with the support their manager provides; 
  • 74% of U.K. employees and 80% of U.S. employees say their managers need to improve communication; 
  • 35% of U.K. employees and 26% of U.S. employees spend less than an hour a week with their manager; and 
  • 38% of managers say they never received formal management training.  

The findings suggest that a lack of communication in turn leads to a lack of connection amongst colleagues.  

The report notes that: 

  • 2 in 5 employees feel disconnected or lonely at work; 
  • 50% say that the only time they connect with colleagues is in meetings;  
  • half reportedly often go a full day without speaking to coworkers; and 
  • nearly half of U.S. employees say their relationships with their colleagues were better during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

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