How can companies encourage remote employees to actively participate in virtual cross-departmental meetings, especially when dealing with different time zones and cultural differences?

Companies can encourage remote employees to actively participate in virtual cross-departmental meetings by setting clear expectations and goals for the meetings, providing training on virtual communication tools, and scheduling meetings at times that accommodate different time zones. It is also important to create a culture of inclusivity and respect for cultural differences, and to actively seek input and feedback from all team members during meetings. Additionally, utilizing technology such as translation services or closed captioning can help bridge language barriers and ensure all employees can fully participate.