Going to the pub has been a long British tradition for many people after work – but a recent study has found that many hybrid workers are feeling like they are missing out
When it’s been a long day at work and your colleague suggests an after work drink at the pub by your office, it can feel like the hardship was worth it.
However those after work drinks started to fade away when people started working from home, and it seems Gen Z and other generations are missing out on the post-work pub culture and socialising with colleagues because of it.
As companies bring back office working conditions – a debate which rages on as companies figure out whether employees should return to the office five days a week – a new report by Heineken found that almost half of hybrid workers (46%) say they’re missing out on catch-ups with colleagues outside the office.
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New working practices has led to 58% of Gen Z hybrid workers having never met some of those they work with, and has meant the art of making connections and friendships has significantly declined. The after-work social has long been a sacred part of British tradition, with many of the best conversations happening outside of the office and at the pub, and fostering connections.
The study also found that 78% of workers polled said after work socialising is a good way to meet new people and contacts. A further 32% said they have their most honest conversations at the pub, while 74% of Gen Z claimed they have their best work ideas not at work, but at the pub social straight afterwards.
What’s more, some 45% of workers say knowing their manager on a more personal level can strengthen their career prospects. There’s good news for businesses too: 59% said they’d be less likely to quit a job if they had a strong relationship with their colleagues.
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Nabil Nasser, Global Head of Heineken, said: “The return-to-office chat continues to stir up debate. After years of video calls and virtual cheers it’s safe to say that while we might not miss the office, we’ve certainly missed those real, in-person laughs with our colleagues. At Heineken, we’ve always believed the best moments happen when people.”
So in light of this, Heineken is making the return to the office that little bit more palatable by offering the UK’s 22m after work pub-goers a chance to get a free pint which can be redeemed with colleagues this October and has cheekily renamed pubs across the UK to ‘The Office’ to celebrate one of the best parts of the working day.
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