In May, Game of Thrones wrapped up the epic question as to who would sit on the Iron Throne. Avengers Endgame also wrapped up its decade of battles, settling the question of who would survive. And, if you have no idea what those two sentences meant, you’ve clearly been avoiding the break room.
Between these pop culture moments, Washington politics, and fires, floods and fury happening somewhere in the country, there’s been plenty of grist for watercooler chats.
But some managers are expressing concerns about how more-relaxed workplaces that include lots of story sharing affect office productivity. And, a lot of laughter or animated conversation a few work spaces down probably does distract some people from getting as much work done as they might in a more subdued workplace.
A 2018 survey of 1,000 workers by Accountemps, a division of Robert Half, found that the two biggest distractions at work are: employees chatting and socializing (32 percent) and non-business-related internet use (25 percent). After all, upon hearing a coworker’s theory about THAT scene, one needs to hop onto Reddit and see what others are saying, right?
Rounding out what employees report as their other biggest distractions at work are:
• Meetings (23 percent).
• Personal calls or email (9 percent).
• Work-related email (6 percent).
But, before banning all social discussions, experts say there are upsides to this chitchat. “Sometimes these are not a distraction but an indicator that the culture in the workplace is collegial,” says Pubali Chakravorty-Campbell, CEO of HR Partners in Dover. She says what one person sees as a distraction, another may consider a welcome break or a chance to build rapport with a coworker or a boss.
“As long as work is getting done and there are no disputes and there is productivity and people are engaged, this banter is not just nice to have, but something companies need to have,” Campbell says.
Barry Roy, regional vice president overseeing the NH offices for Robert Half, says periodic breaks to socialize are not only important to workers, but to the health of an organization. “Socialization helps to have a more productive workplace,” Roy says, adding it creates a strong work culture, which is what people want.
“It’s good bonding,” he says, noting that employees who share a bond are more likely to care about and help one another, which will increase productivity. And people who have friends at work are more likely to stay in their jobs.
Dealing With Distractions
Still, personal conversations can become excessive. After all, Roy points out, a third of workers surveyed identified chatting as a time waster.
Campbell says it is important for businesses to set clear expectations with employees about what is and is not acceptable. For some companies, it is fine to take a few minutes here and there with your colleagues for non-work-related conversations. At other companies, that’s what formal breaks are for, she says.
Managers can give cues that it’s time to wrap up a conversation by popping in to ask about the status of a report or a client, Roy says. “They will usually pick up the cues it’s time to get back to work,” he says. However, Roy warns against just telling people to get back to work, as such reactions can demotivate employees and kill a vibrant culture.
If a majority of employees are excited about something, such as a show, managers can also take initiative and plan a special lunch hour with discussions and games themed around it.
Roy suggests if an employee isn’t reading social cues and is becoming a distraction to others, there are steps managers should take. “A good manager will first assess as to why. Is there so much on their plate they don’t know where to start, or do they not have enough to do? Help them delegate, block their time accordingly, and help them prioritize,” he says.
If it becomes a chronic problem, Roy says it’s time for HR to have a deeper conversation with the employee. “It’s a sign they are just not following the lead you are putting down,” he says.
Campbell says employees also need to take responsibility for setting boundaries at work. She says it is sometimes difficult for employees to tell a coworker they don’t have time for a conversation, as they don’t want to offend them.
It is important to be truthful, but kind, she says, in telling someone you are too busy to speak at that moment. She recommends telling a colleague that you have a time-sensitive project and you will get back to them.
Roy says set a time to take a mutual minor break to speak. “It’s healthy to have socialization at work. We have times we might block out on our calendars or step out for lunch,” he says.
Pitfalls to Avoid
As with anything that goes on in a workplace, there can be unintended consequences. Watercooler chats are no different.
Among them is making sure workplace norms apply across the workforce, Campbell says. Don’t have different rules for different people. If the expectation is the rank-and-file waits for formal breaks to talk about nonwork topics, then managers and executives should do the same, she says. Different rules for different job levels can breed dissension.
Also, people need to be sensitive about whether discussing certain topics or scenes from a show or movie could be offensive. Campbell says employees need to be mindful of their language. And, finally, she adds that sharing interests, such as a favorite TV show, is a great way to break the ice with colleagues and “normalize and equalize people.”
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