Do you find it helps people connect and if so does that help productivity?
I've been to many such things which were awkward and uncomfortable so I'm happy to report that the ones at my current job are not at all like that...those one's were unproductive.
I think these types of meetings can be very useful, during the year there is always a patient that you can't see and I think it is important to know the right person to whom you can refer them. On the other hand, I get patients who send me patients who know me better thanks to this type of meeting.
On some occasions I have had problems using my office, for example, a year ago they did construction work on the floor next door and I could not use it because of the noise. At that time they lent me other offices... Anyway, I think these meetings are quite useful. It is also true that we are few people, perhaps with more people I would feel uncomfortable in a meeting of this type.
People, in my opinion, are less connected than ever - I mean true and real connection, not being "friends" on Facebook - and I think that concepts like this, done right, help to close the gaps that exist between people; it's not suitable for all workplaces but I think it has merit.
I am of the same opinion. Real encounters cannot be replaced by virtual ones. the connection cannot be the same. But it is a trend. Since covid almost all the people I see are on-line, and people don't understand how important personal contact is for me, the information that is lost because we don't see each other in person. I don't know, I guess we live in a time where quantity is more important than quality.