The Virtual Water Cooler

Abstract

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic caused a drastic shift in many organizations’ communication styles. Businesses had to adapt to the strict pandemic regulations, which resulted in a majority of employees moving into a virtual work environment. Previous research has been done surrounding individuals’ communication styles through computer-mediated communication (CMC) and built a foundation centered on workplace communication. The following study conducted fifteen semi-structured interviews to draw from the lived experiences that professional employees have had while working within a virtual environment to explore how cross-departmental informal communication can lead to a more substantial online presence across an organization’s shared virtual environment. Additionally, the study examined how organizational employees communicate shared experiences through CMC. The current study uncovered four themes: participants experienced negative emotions toward working from home; identified limitations faced within a virtual environment, specifically a need for personal connection; participants sought out informal communication; and benefits from engaging in informal communication.