- 81% of employees still working in flexible or fully remote arrangements
- 55% are meeting in person more often – in social, team building or strategy days
- 78% of these events are held outside of the workplace or even the city
Employers are finding new ways to ensure their teams are working cohesively, in response to the 37 per cent of employed people who regularly work from home.[1] Research from Australia’s leading SME travel management provider has revealed that 81 per cent of businesses still have flexible or remote working arrangements in place, and 55 per cent are bringing their employees together in person more often through social events, team building days, and strategy and development sessions.
The findings come from a survey of an independent, nationally representative panel of 1,001 Australians, commissioned by Corporate Traveller, the flagship SME business of Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG). Corporate Traveller asked respondents whether their employer was getting teams together more regularly through in-person social events, team building days, and strategy and business development sessions. It also explored whether these events were held close to the workplace or outside of their city.
Corporate Traveller found that 44 per cent of respondents in flexible working arrangements are coming together more often in person. Within this cohort, 17 per cent meet more often with their co-workers for social events. Social events allow team members to relax and interact away from the workplace setting. They can include anything from afternoon drinks and trivia nights to more elaborate parties and award balls.
Another 17 per cent have also been getting together with co-workers in team building days. Employers design such days to help teams bond and to create a culture of collaboration through structured but fun activities. They can include escape room challenges, fundraising activities, games or volunteering activities.
Nine per cent have been attending strategy sessions in person more often. Strategy and business development sessions are about identifying and planning business goals. They can be run by the company itself or by an independent facilitator.
Employers in Victoria are more likely than those in any other state to increase in-person meet-ups. Half (50%) of Victorian respondents said their bosses had organised more in-person team events, compared with 35 per cent of Queenslanders and 46 per cent of New South Wales respondents.
Corporate Traveller also asked respondents if these events are held outside of the workplace or city. Nearly three quarters (72%) of respondents said yes. Specifically, 48 per cent said their face-to-face events are held outside of the workplace. Almost a quarter (23%) said they are held outside the city, where employees need to fly to the location.
This trend is highest in New South Wales, where 78 per cent of respondents said such events are held outside the workplace and even the city, and lowest in South Australia, at 63 per cent and Victoria, at 64 per cent.
ENDS
About Corporate Traveller
Corporate Traveller is an award-winning business travel management and solutions provider for SMEs, operating in six global markets. Established in 1993 as Flight Centre Travel Group’s first corporate brand, Corporate Traveller has offered its personalised service, expert tailored advice, dedicated travel consultants, and advanced booking technology to more than 6500 Australian business customers. Offering an all-in-one innovative booking platform with the support of a personal travel consultant, Corporate Traveller makes travel simpler, faster, and easier for businesses. With a wide range of solutions available, Corporate Traveller can cater for simple requirements through to the most complex SME business travel management needs. For more information or to book a business consultation, visit corporatetraveller.com.au
Survey results below:
| Since hybrid working arrangements have been in place in your workplace, has your company organised more face-to-face meet ups, to bring the teams together? | ||
| Answer | Percentage of respondents | Percentage of hybrid/remote workers |
| Yes, the company has increased the number of social events | 14% | 17% |
| Yes, the company has increased team building days | 14% | 17% |
| Yes, the company has increased strategy or business development days | 8% | 9% |
| My workplace has not implemented hybrid or remote working arrangements | 19% | 0% |
| No | 45% | 56% |
| Are more of these types of days hosted outside of your workplace or city? | |
| Answer | Percentage of respondents |
| Yes, outside of our workplace | 48% |
| Yes, outside of our city | 23% |
| No | 29% |
[1] Working arrangements, August 2023 | Australian Bureau of Statistics (abs.gov.au)