Remote workers and companies are becoming more popular these days. In 2015, Gallup reported 37% of workers said they worked remotely, up from just 9% in 1995. How do companies keep their employees updated and also keep the culture alive without having to spend time and money on travel every month? At Rhythm Systems, we decided to have virtual monthly meetings to accommodate those who are unable to fly or drive to Charlotte every month and still keep the company connected and up to date.
Honestly, our first virtual meeting was a disaster! We have about 12 employees who live in Charlotte so we met in the office while the 6 remote team members dialed-in and only used audio. The team in the room fed off of each other’s energy. We were loud, excited, and frankly rude to our virtual coworkers. Since they were not physically in the room, we acted as if they were not even a part of the meeting.