Togetherness and (work)Place: Insights from Workers and Managers during Australian COVID-Induced Lockdowns

(1) Background: Pandemic-imposed lockdowns have heightened our awareness of the value (work)place and made apparent role it plays in establishing sense belonging professional identity. The opportunity to work remotely during pandemic has given us an appreciation benefits from access increased flexibility, but there is consistent evidence emerging showing how much workers miss in-office social learning interactions. This paper focuses on results about (i) reported perceived effectiveness performance, (ii) adjustment remote working, (iii) first two COVID-19-induced lockdowns, as by managers Australia 2020. Findings shed light onto working experience affected connection to, importance of, harness insights towards creating spaces responsive activities we prefer undertake workplace, permitting employees choose workstyle pattern that suits their personal circumstances. (2) Methods: Correlational thematic analyses were conducted findings 1579 online surveys focusing experiences second rounds COVID-19-imposed lockdowns. A total 668 911 12 different industry sectors participated Bates Smart survey (BSRWS). Surveys targeted knowledge all career stages, age, experience. (3) Results: Employees felt technologically supported productive whilst home, aspects connection, collaboration, suffered; collaboration togetherness are main motivators for returning office. Managers’ significantly with productivity, sharing, belonging, performance dropping; face-to-face interaction business development key priorities office challenges mentoring managing emotional wellbeing teams evident. (4) Conclusions: From these conclude space enabler organisational culture identity, playing a critical psychologically safe equitable workplaces. reports snapshot data workers’ effects WFH under strict lockdown circumstances wellbeing, over time. It proposes lenses (togetherness place), through which future workplace should be considered researchers alike.