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If employers want their remote workers to feel valued and connected, leaders must deliberately create opportunities for virtual social interactions, a leadership and communications specialist says.

Connections aren't simply a "nice to have"; rather, they are "absolutely crucial", according to coach and author Leah Mether.

But when teams are working remotely, connections "won't magically happen", she tells HR Daily.

This issue was recently examined by researchers in Germany, who studied the impact of hybrid work on employees' social fulfilment needs.

They found employees working remotely were less exposed to "spontaneous socialisation", because technology-based interactions tend to prioritise task-related conversations over small talk...