The survey commissioned by Corporate Traveller, the flagship SME business of Flight Centre Travel Group, explores how businesses with flexible or remote working arrangements are bringing employees together.

The survey of 1001 respondents revealed 81 per cent of businesses still have flexible or remote working arrangements in place, and 44 per cent of respondents in flexible working arrangements are coming together more often in person.

Within this group, 17 per cent meet more often with their co-workers for social events.

Another 17 per cent have been getting together with co-workers in team-building days. 

Nine per cent have been attending strategy sessions in person more often.

Corporate Traveller asked respondents if these events are held outside the workplace or city. Nearly three quarters of respondents said yes.

Specifically, 48 per cent said their face-to-face events are held outside of the workplace. Almost a quarter said they are held outside the city, where employees need to fly to the location.

“Employers are driving the movement back to the office and they will get more strategic and creative in the 2025 financial year to achieve their objective to get teams working better,” says Tom Walley, global managing director at Corporate Traveller.

“There is a real desire among businesses for more human interaction, and while there are benefits to flexible arrangements, there are some things you simply can’t achieve remotely or online.

“In online meetings, it is more difficult to ‘read the room’ or identify non-verbal cues. You don’t always hear the nuanced meaning behind someone’s words. 

“Employers are doing their best to balance the two demands by offering flexible working arrangements as well as regular, fun opportunities that bring workers together in-person and build a solid team.

“These events will ultimately benefit the business, the team and the mental health of employees.”