New study finds 2.5 minutes late to work call is the ideal timing to skip small talk, while staying under the radar

LYING LOW: A new report has identified the optimal time to join a work call: exactly 2 minutes and 30 seconds late.

According to the study, this is the sweet spot that allows you to bypass the dreaded awkward small talk, while still appearing on time.

“Those who join virtual meetings 2.5 minutes late are far less likely to be subjected to inane conversations about the weather, weekend plans, or the latest Netflix series,” says Kyle Reagan from the Workplace Optimisation Institute, which conducted the research.

“These workers are able to seamlessly integrate onto the call just as the serious discussion begins, while also avoiding any suspicion of being late.”

The researchers say those arriving only two minutes late are still at risk of being dragged into the generic banter.

“But those arriving more than 2.5 minutes might miss key details that could come back to haunt them later, or worse, they might be called out for tardiness,” says the report.