Is asking employees to attend reasonable?

Twice a year, the entire 37signals team meets up in person. This week, co-founders Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson talk about how these gatherings work, what they’re really for, and why the structure is intentionally loose. They share how the mix of optional hangouts and focused work sessions helps their fully remote team reconnect, recharge, and solve problems face-to-face.

Key Takeaways

• 00:14 – How 37signals approaches its twice-a-year meetups
• 01:52 – What’s required and what’s optional
• 04:09 – The deeper purpose behind bringing everyone together
• 07:51 – Finding the right blend of scheduled time and free time
• 16:37 – The limits of video calls
• 23:22 – Yes, there’s fun, but it’s still a work trip

Links and Resources

• Record a video question for the podcast
• Books by 37signals
• Sign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com
• HEY World | HEY
• The REWORK podcast
• The Rework Podcast on YouTube
• The 37signals Dev Blog
• 37signals on YouTube
• @37signals on X