Working alone and remotely has a negative impact on the personal and professional development of almost 50% of Spaniards.
Comet, the innovative concept of meeting and training spaces, has carried out a new survey to understand how French, Spanish and Belgian employees perceive meetings in the workplace. The survey, dubbed Comet x YouGov 2023, provides pertinent information on the positive evolution of the perception of professional meetings, highlighting the importance of collective moments and addressing the challenges of remote working and hybrid organization.
According to the results obtained, the year 2023 represents the ideal time to upgrade professional meetings, emphasizing the importance of social ties in meeting the needs of individuals and companies.
Currently, the majority of respondents from France (62%), Spain (almost 80%) and Belgium (63%) find these meetings useful in a professional context. Although their usefulness is recognized, some 71% of all nationalities still feel that companies should strive to improve the efficiency and productivity of these meetings.
Although the figures used in the latest wave do not correspond to the NET, meaning that the 2022 figures may not take into account certain conditions, deductions or exclusions used this year, a specific example can be seen in Spain in 2023. In this case, 20% of Spaniards face unnecessary meetings, compared to 69% recorded in 2022. One possible explanation for this change could be attributed to the post-Covid period, during which a significant number of meetings have been conducted remotely, potentially influencing perceptions of their effectiveness and usefulness.
What's more, it's important to point out that 82% of Spaniards expressed a desire to receive coaching to learn how to run better quality meetings. This growing interest in improving the quality of meetings reflects a growing awareness of the importance of optimizing this aspect in the professional arena.
The importance of collective moments
On the other hand, collective moments remain precious for professionals. Statistics show that after working alone and remotely, 30% of Spaniards felt a lack of human interaction, 25% noted a lack of information exchange between colleagues, 20% felt a sense of isolation, and 20% felt that their workload and time spent had increased due to working in isolation.
As companies move towards a hybrid organization, combining remote and office-based working, the office still plays a crucial role in establishing social and collaborative links, even if it is frequented less frequently. Expectations about going to the office reflect the importance employees attach to these interactions: 44% expect to meet their colleagues physically to take advantage of synergies and spontaneous brainstorming sessions. 28% attach importance to maintaining personal relationships, and 30% are keen to develop stronger professional bonds and achieve more effective meeting results. In addition, 39% want to work in a quiet environment, recognizing the importance of physical workspace for certain tasks and concentration.
The challenges of remote working
In this respect, remote working has not convinced everyone. Almost 50% of Spaniards say that working alone and remotely has a negative impact on their personal and professional development. In all the countries surveyed (Spain, France, Belgium), the reasons cited were the lack of human contact and the limited circulation of information between colleagues, two crucial aspects for both professional and personal development.
In this sense, the hybrid organization that combines remote and office working seems to be the most balanced solution to meet all needs, both for organizations and individuals. Is it true, then, that working in the office improves business productivity through employee interaction? According to statistics, 34% of Spaniards prefer to come into the office rather than telework, and 20% of them do so because they feel more productive. What's more, working in the office can also have a positive impact on employee morale, as 21% of Spaniards report being in a better mood and having higher morale when they visit the office.
The survey was carried out on a representative sample of the working population (18+) in France (n=1005), Spain (n=1020) and Belgium (n=1017). The survey was conducted online, on YouGov's proprietary panels, from July 4 to 10, 2023, using the quota method.
Rebranding Comet
Thanks to this survey, Comet's rebranding becomes even more relevant as we conclude how important collective relationships are in the workplace. Therefore, with this change, Comet seeks to promote and reflect the need for human connections and shared experiences, particularly in the context of remote working.
In this way, we can see how the French company has taken a strategic turn by rounding off its typography, instilling a sense of community, proximity and comfort. The choice of yellow, symbolizing sunshine and joy, radiates a dynamic, welcoming warmth. An inspiring approach that transcends borders and resonates with the essence of its community.
The new brand identity was developed after 7 years of growth, the opening of 3 markets and the successful launch of 3 different but complementary offers: Comet Meetings Comet Workplaces and Comet Hospitality.
Reflecting on its relatively short history, Comet has realized that it also belongs to the hospitality industry, and its business is built on service, care and experience. If customers choose Comet, it's mainly because of the team members they meet, from the sales team to the operational teams, who go to great lengths to make them feel special, energized and motivated. Comet believes that its role is to bring people together in a world that separates them, and to highlight their true essence, their strong sense of hospitality and purpose, which it seeks to convey through its new identity.
IN SUMMARY...
Thanks to the Comet x YouGov 2023 survey, the company specializing in hospitality and office real estate highlighted, among other things, that meetings are useful in the professional context, and that working alone and remotely has a negative impact on their personal and professional development. With these findings in mind, the company has reoriented its focus with a rebranding that reflects its commitment to collaboration and enriching experiences. The new logo, which combines the letters "CO" and "MET", aims to symbolize the richness that comes from inspiring encounters and collaborations in the prodessional setting. The change from cyan to yellow expresses warmth and joy, in line with the importance of human relationships, while the soft typography suggests comfort. This rebranding goes beyond aesthetics, aiming to encourage authentic encounters in well-lit spaces, in line with the results of the survey. The project, led by Seenk, highlights the involvement of all Comet's internal teams, underlining its attention to hospitality and the overall experience. "
