By Amanda Reseburg
During the pandemic, remote work quickly became standard practice across many parts of the world. According to studies, 56% of global companies allow for some remote work, whereas 16% are now entirely remote. The pandemic impacted the ability of many teams to gather in person, but now that remote work is far more accepted, some are finding that disconnect persisting.
But even if a company is 100% remote, they do not have to sacrifice in-person events that can help with team building and company growth. When a company dedicates itself to being intentional about bringing its remote employees together, it can build some incredibly beneficial (and fun) in-person opportunities. After all, who doesn’t like the sound of rewarding the team with a quarterly party in London?
Bringing people together
Shiela Mie Legpasi, President of the all-remote company Cyberbacker, knows the myriad of benefits of remote work. After all, it was going remote that changed her life’s trajectory.
“When I was presented with the opportunity to work remotely from home, it changed the structure of my entire life,” Legpasi shares. “Working remotely has allowed people like myself to support their families while remaining present for children.” Maintaining a remote workforce is also cost-effective for companies and opens up options for a workforce in a labor-shortage climate.
However, as anyone who works remotely can tell you, the connection with one’s coworkers can be challenging in a remote environment. Where once we could team-build and foster connections with each other face-to-face, a shift to a remote workplace has left some wondering if there is a place for the in-person event anymore.
To Legpasi, any work situation needs a measure of balance — or, as she says, counterbalance — to work effectively for all parties. Investing in in-person opportunities for remote employees could give those employees some of that balance they may be looking for.
According to recent research, 62% of remote workers felt that limited social interaction with their coworkers negatively affected their mental health. To find this counterbalance, many companies are extolling the benefits of in-person events.
The benefits of face-to-face
When your company team is spread all over the country or even worldwide, it can seem nearly impossible to gather them all together in person on a regular basis. Yet, many companies are making an effort to do at least one “all-hands” meeting a year. Annual meetings allow teams that work remotely with one another to meet face-to-face, interact, let their hair down, and share bonding time.
For CEOs, in-person meetings and events allow for timely business decision-making, foster more strategic thinking, and also help boost the economy through travel and hosting money spent in various locations. As productive as people are remotely, and as much as remote work can help with retention, there really is no substitute for a friendly handshake, a dinner with coworkers after a day of productive meetings, or bending the ear of the company CEO in person. While Cyberbacker has mastered replicating interpersonal communication through Zoom and popular text-base communication platforms like Slack, Legaspi emphasizes that in-person meetings are still crucial to their culture when possible.
With all of the benefits of in-person events and meetings, it would behoove even the most ardent remote work supporters to consider planning an in-person meetup, even if it is only annually.
One of the biggest wins for remote workers is the chance to get back some semblance of balance in their lives. Whether that be structuring a work-from-home schedule that works better with their family schedule or if it’s a job that gives them a chance to do some hybrid work in the office and at home.
Whatever the workplace structure, the value of in-person meetings and events is clear. As Legpasi stresses, it is all a part of a workplace that recognizes the need for balance.
“Sometimes, the necessary work requires one to come in early, work late, or work during the weekends,” she explains. “As a counterbalance, vacation time is widely available, and I can completely focus on my family during that time. Leaders will tell you that you will fail if you lean too far one way or the other. Burnout will be inevitable.”
Final thoughts on in-person events
With employee retention and avoiding burnout high on the priority lists of leaders, giving credence to the need for valuable in-person interaction with flexible remote work time is essential. It could go a long way toward creating a healthy and happy work environment for all.
About the Author:
Amanda Reseburg has been a freelance journalist since 2016, with work featured in Scary Mommy and the Beloit Daily News. She was a creative entrepreneur for 13 years and founded her own hospice photography volunteer program, profiled by PBS. She lives in Orlando with her husband and three children.
