A new workplace phenomenon dubbed the 'pinger' is undermining office camaraderie, with a fifth of employees reporting they go an entire workday without speaking face-to-face with a colleague. The term, coined by Metro, describes workers who sit in the same office but choose to communicate via instant messaging rather than in person.
Widespread Reliance on Messaging
A study of 2,000 UK workers, commissioned by workplace training platform Kahoot, found that half of employees use emails or messaging services to communicate with colleagues who are in the same room. Despite a push for return-to-office mandates—41% of people now work exclusively from the office—water cooler conversations have not made a proper comeback.
The research highlights a disconnect: 40% of office workers feel isolated even when sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with peers. 'For too many workplaces, employees are constantly in touch, but never actually connecting,' said leadership and workplace coach Emma Georgiou. 'Workers are communicating across too many channels, using email, Teams and WhatsApp—and clients and colleagues can access them in any way at any time.'
Generational and Cultural Shifts
Jim Moore, employee relations expert at HR consultants Hamilton Nash, attributes the rise of pingers to generational changes. 'Younger generations who grew up in the world of the internet and instant messaging are making up an increasingly large part of the workplace,' he said. 'Boomers and Generation X, on the other hand, are more used to phone calls and in-person communication.'
Moore added that perceived convenience drives the trend: 'Sending messages lets people respond at their own pace, while a ringing phone basically screams "Stop what you are doing and pay attention to me." Similarly, in my experience, Gen Z do not welcome being interrupted by someone walking up with a question.' The shift to remote working during Covid, which led to hybrid models, further entrenched this communication style, Moore noted.
Productivity Costs
Contrary to the belief that messaging saves time, experts argue it hampers productivity. 'A five-minute conversation becomes a long email chain of back-and-forth, all the while other chains of messages compete for your attention,' Georgiou explained. 'This reduces productivity and causes stress for employees. Constant notifications leave employees' attention fragmented, and organisations can start to mistake responsiveness for effectiveness.'
Moore agreed that a quick face-to-face chat is far quicker overall, even for shy individuals. 'It becomes easier to work in isolation and send an instant message if you need anything,' he said, but cautioned that this approach slows down resolution.
Leadership Responsibility
While pingers may seem anti-social, experts stress that office culture plays a key role. 'Simply telling employees to socialise more is not going to work,' Georgiou said. 'Companies need to be clearer on when it is best to message, and when a conversation is more effective. Leaders have a key role to play, as the way they communicate sets the tone. If they make a small shift towards having more in-person conversations, it will quickly ripple through their teams.'
