In 2020, remote work felt like a revolution. In 2025, it feels… automated. Slack pings, Zoom fatigue, weekly “just checking in” Looms-it’s starting to feel like our jobs are done by robots, with robots, and for robots.
And ironically, the thing remote companies keep forgetting? There are still humans on the other end of the Wi-Fi.
Remote-first is here to stay. But remote-warm? That’s the harder lift.
As Eleanor Roosevelt once said:
“To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart.”
Then again, Eleanor never had to onboard an intern using an AI-powered Slackbot named Marvin.
The Default Trap
Too many remote companies default to:
- Overdocumentation (6 Notion pages for the same process)
- Over-async (“Let’s take this to Threads”)
- Over-automation (Birthday bots with zero human follow-up)
- Under-connection (No off-topic chats, ever)
The result? Efficient, yes. But flat. Robotic. Lonely.
Culture used to happen in kitchens, hallways, bad coffee runs. Now it has to be designed on purpose.
Tip: Design for Accidental Humanity
Leave room for randomness. Start meetings with a weird prompt. Have a standing “coffee roulette” bot. Make a shared playlist. Anything that reminds people they’re working with… people.
Table: Cold Remote vs. Human Remote
| Element | Cold Remote Culture | Human Remote Culture |
| Onboarding | Docs + tools checklist | Welcome calls + buddy system |
| Communication | Status updates only | Banter encouraged |
| Performance reviews | OKRs + charts | Feedback + growth convos |
| Company rituals | Quarterly emails | Monthly rituals, memes, pets |
FAQ
Q: Isn’t async the holy grail of remote work?
A: It’s a great tool, not a complete culture. People need autonomy-but also acknowledgement. You can ship in silence, but thrive in community.
Q: Do I need to force “fun”?
A: No. You just need to allow it. Remote teams don’t need more forced bonding-they need permission to be human.
A Quick Joke (Icebreaker Material)
Why did the remote employee bring a plant to the Zoom call?
To prove someone in the meeting had a pulse.
Final Question
If you stripped away every tool and template-what would be left of your company culture?
If the answer is “just a logo and a Google Drive,” it’s time to start building the human layer.