Abstract
Abstract Hybrid meetings, which combine in-person and virtual participants, are becoming increasingly common in modern agile workplaces. Despite their prevalence, these meetings often lead to asymmetric participation. In this study, we explored the nature of participation asymmetries in hybrid meetings and identified the technical and social factors contributing to these disparities. We analyzed anonymized access card data, observed hybrid meetings, and conducted interviews with employees in a large-scale Norwegian software development organization. Our findings reveal that the employees preferred to go to the office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. In hybrid meetings, we found reduced engagement from virtual participants compared to those co-located at the office, especially in the absence of a clear speaking order. Social-driven asymmetries included difficulties in entering conversations, missing remarks and non-verbal cues, and being left out of pre- and post-meeting discussions. Physical presence in meetings was found to be crucial for newly onboarded team members. Future research should investigate what fosters inclusive meeting practices to improve engagement and collaboration in hybrid work environments.