12 statistics that show why meeting in person is more important than ever

While many of us love occasionally working from the comfort of our own living rooms, the numbers are in—96% of companies are back in the office in some capacity this year. This doesn’t mean we’re all going back to the old 9-to-5 of the past. Flexible or hybrid work is here to stay for many organizations. 

The reason for this shift back to the office? Beyond many companies’ desire to make the most of their real estate investments, people are also seeing the benefits of in-person collaboration. Let’s dive into the benefits of meeting in person, and the numbers that back them up. 

Higher productivity and engagement

1. According to a 2023 Stanford study of remote work, fully remote employees are 10% less productive than those working on company premises. This is a complex topic, and there are studies that have data to back up either side. Part of the complexity is due to the definition of productivity—some studies compare time spent working at home versus the combined time spent commuting and working onsite, while others only compare time spent actually working. 
2. Even the best host of a virtual meeting can find it impossible to keep every member of their team completely engaged in a meeting. Some members of the team are more comfortable speaking up in a virtual setting, while others perpetually stay on mute. In-person meetings can remove that barrier to engagement, not to mention the potential barriers caused by technical difficulties. One Stanford study found that in-person teams generate 15% to 20% more ideas than virtual ones. 
3. Another 2022 study looked at engineering teams who were tasked with suggesting new uses for an existing product, with teams randomly assigned to meet in person or via videoconference. In-person teams proved more effective, in that their product ideas received higher external ratings. This data suggests that brainstorming activities benefit from in-person presence.
4. A 2023 Gallup study that looked at employee engagement found that onsite employees have improved the most since 2022. Engagement overall is ticking back up, but remote workers’ connection to the mission and purpose of their organizations has deteriorated to a record low. 

Fewer distractions

5. Working from home can lead to more distractions than working onsite. One survey found that 66% of remote workers report being distracted while working from home. The same study found that 30% of respondents also experience increased stress while working remotely. 
6. Technical difficulties, with internet connectivity issues or other problems, can also be a major distraction. One study found that 60% of remote workers have experienced technical difficulties while working remotely, with the average worker spending 23 minutes per day dealing with technical issues. Being able to be fully plugged into the conversation without interruptions can help teams ideate quicker and solve problems faster.

Stronger team building

7. While virtual meetings can help teams stay connected, in-person meetings allow for deeper, more meaningful relationships to grow. In fact, according to a survey by Harvard Business Review, 95% of people say face-to-face meetings are key to successful long-term relationships in the workplace. 
8. Studies actually show that full-time remote workers have 33% fewer friends at work than office workers. These friendships and connections can play a major part in how satisfied employees feel while working onsite. It’s easier for employees to make friends when they spend time together in the office versus when they only communicate digitally. 

Better collaboration and mentorship

9. Understandably, networking and inter-departmental ollaboration takes a hit when you’re working 100% remotely. One 2023 study found that remote work narrowed the scope of employees’ networks, and they engaged with fewer contacts inside and outside the organization. 
10. Another study found that 36% of American employees who work from home all, most, or some of the time believe that working remotely hurts their opportunities to be mentored at work. 
11. A recent study of mentoring practices in software engineering teams discovered that teammates working in the same building received 22% more comments on their code from coworkers. These comments provide suggestions on how to improve code and play an important role in employee learning and performance improvement. 
12. There’s also something to be said for spontaneous collaboration—perhaps you pass a colleague in the hall or have an unplanned chat at lunch that leads to cross-functional collaboration. Microsoft’s shift to companywide remote work during the pandemic resulted in work groups becoming more siloed. Collaboration time spent with other work groups dropped by about 25% from the pre-pandemic level, making it harder for employees to acquire and share new information.

Thinking of adopting a hybrid work model? Get the checklist to make sure you have everything planned out for the big switch.