So without any more time, plan Zoom lunch ideas as soon as possible. Another issue with remote work is that it can lead to excessive meetings. Buffer’s report shows 75% of remote workers spend one to 10 hours of the workweek in meetings. Some managers feel the need to over-communicate with their teams through virtual meetings, which can hurt productivity. The more time you spend in meetings, the less time your employees have to perform deep work. With hybrid work coming into the forefront, virtual lunches may seem a little too routine – even if you’re all ordering the same type of takeout or making and sharing your favorite sandwiches.

These slip-ups could be excused due to companies being caught off guard at the beginning of the pandemic with no time to prepare. Now that we’re in what is generally considered the post-pandemic era, you simply have no excuse for showing up to your first day at a new job with malfunctioning equipment. For example, you can substitute your house walls for a photo of an Italian restaurant, complete with a faux finish, or a painting of an Italian street café. On the other hand, lunch meeting time could be perfect for attendees to participate in open conversations to feel relaxed and refreshed. Prep a few ahead of time or just prep the ingredients to quickly build a bowl at lunch time. If you’re searching for a seriously casual way to spend a virtual lunch with your team, consider streaming a show together.

The Remote Show Live! Finding a Remote Job During a Pandemic [Webinar]

And out of those that returned, 78% feel more included in the workplace, showing the desire for interpersonal connection. It could be why some employers are reducing time spent away from the office — WFH Research’s report shows that between 2020 and 2022, the average number of remote days per week declined to 2.2 days. Many companies are thrilled to return to the office, even if it’s to the dismay of their employees.

Hybrid arrangements can accommodate both sides by allowing employees to work from home sometimes. That’s a rapid adoption rate for any work style — and especially for one that blurs the boundaries between work and home. While remote work proved essential during the covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns, it also brought challenges for both workers and employers.

How to Tailor Your Resume and Cover Letter to a Remote Job

If you can tell by our name, though, we’re slightly partial to the pizza option. You can look into food delivery services like Grubhub and Doordash, both of which have corporate programs that make it easy to provide lunch for your employees. Hoppier is another great company that lets you provide virtual credit cards with an allowance limit so that your employees can order their own lunch. Are you speaking to the people in your organization, department, or team? Keeping your audience in mind, you can tailor your lunch and learn to better suit their interests, thus boosting attendance and providing real value. Then in early 2020, work life changed dramatically for millions of people.

For example, the host may read out a list of things and whoever brings back the most in the time frame wins a point. You can include items such as wooden spoons, a green pen, a tv remote etc. Sure, it’s not quite the same as in-person, but still an opportunity to connect. Whether you incorporate just one or all three, they can help you optimize your lunch break so you can feel and work your best. Depending on how many team members are in your virtual lunch, you can divide up the period equally among everyone, leaving a little time for questions and answers after each lecture. Team members can also make funny PowerPoints or do a bit of show-and-tell if it fits in with their talk.

Day in the Life of a Remote Company: Toggl

Restaurant delivery services like Uber Eats and DoorDash are useful if you want to eat out but don’t have time to step away from work. Some companies even offer food delivery credits to remote employees since they can’t enjoy the occasional office potluck or Friday donut. And why wouldn’t they, when 68% of remote workers describe their remote work experience as very positive?

On the other hand, it might not be the right move for a group of shy and private people. If you’re looking for a group activity on the quieter side, consider doing a group meditation. This is a great idea if your team is confronted with a strict deadline or an intense project. Meditation can help improve stress management and relaxation, and the most important time to step back and remember to be present is when the pressure is high. Personal development includes everything from time management to wellness to communication skills. Consider a cross-training session, in which one person teaches members of other teams a bit about what they do.

This virtual team building activity can be used across a couple of weeks or months rather than just for one meeting. Use the following remote team building ideas to foster stronger relationships on the team. While this may raise concerns about work-life balance, it indicates many remote workers’ dedication and commitment to their roles. However, it’s essential to strike a healthy balance and avoid burnout by setting boundaries and practicing effective time management as a leader.

According to McKinsey, the appeal of remote work is catching on, with 87% of workers  embracing flexible work arrangements when given the opportunity. A report from Owl Labs shows 65% of workers prefer a completely remote setup. Home is where many people feel the most relaxed and, well, at home. So it’s https://remotemode.net/blog/ not surprising that a Buffer study shows an overwhelming 98% of respondents expressed a desire to work remotely at least some of the time for the rest of their careers. While you’re at it, it’s a good idea to install one of those time tracker tools to help you understand your peak productivity hours.

Create a Birth Map

You can either work separately or on small teams to solve questions and learn more about your coworkers’ knowledge using an online Jeopardy! Simulator or by creating your own trivia game with free platforms like this Jotform Quiz Maker. You don’t have to have winnings, but if you do, they can be a gift card, a no-meeting afternoon, or another office perk. This virtual lunch idea is most fun when you’re having a virtual lunch with a boss or manager, as you can get to know them a bit better than you would in a typical work setting. Discover engaging and relevant topics for virtual water cooler talks. Their blog is filled with travel tips, best places for digital nomads, software recommendations, and remote working tips for people who want to maximize their work from home benefits.

• This virtual lunch idea is great for teams that want to discuss more intellectual topics during their lunch break.
• Virtual lunches can also help improve collaboration and communication among remote team members.
• Remote work can be challenging for mental health and well-being, as it can lead to feelings of isolation, loneliness, and stress.
• Cook a meal together with an instructor and get a predetermined list of ingredients.
• This is a great way to get to know each other on a more personal level and share ideas and insights.

When she is not researching the most productive collaboration techniques, she can usually be found trying out the latest team chat and collaboration tools and apps. Your home office space is where you’ll be spending most of your time when working remotely, so it’s paramount to make it as comfortable, distraction-free, and organized as possible. Of course, if you don’t have enough space in your home to dedicate an entire room to your work, there are plenty of ways you can create flexible, multi-purpose spaces inside any size apartment. So, let’s get you ready to make the most out of your first day as a remote worker. Here are seven tried-and-tested tips you can use to crush your first day of work at a remote company. Whether it’s your first job at a remote company, or you’ve adjusted to working from home since the beginning of the pandemic, you’ll still have some fine-tuning to do.