Making small talk with your coworkers comes with the territory when you work in an office, but new research suggests it may soon become a thing of the past. According to a new survey, the art of office chit-chat is dying out because it makes younger workers uncomfortable.
The poll of 2-thousand U.S. adults with jobs reveals:
- Three-quarters (74%) admit they struggle to engage in light conversations with their coworkers in the office.
- Overall, 27% say they feel more comfortable communicating online than in person, but that number shoots up to 40% for Gen Z workers.
- Nearly half (48%) of all recipients say they use WhatsApp, Teams or email to avoid face-to-face conversation, even when they’re sitting near the recipient.
- The struggle is so real, 28% even avoid going into the office kitchen in case they would have to talk to someone.
- For 40% of young adults, small talk at work is “like learning a new language,” because they’re more familiar with working remotely.
- Some 27% who are more experienced with workplace chit-chat actually feel sorry for office “newbies” who have yet to master it.
- But actually talking to someone you work with face-to-face has benefits, with 38% saying a positive chat boosts their mood and confidence, helps them feel relaxed and happier, too.
- So, it’s not surprising that 51% of respondents believe office small talk improves communication, leads to a happier staff (49%) and better company morale (48%).
- Knowing this, 22% of all respondents are prioritizing being more social at work in 2025.
Source: NY Post