How Omnisend’s Pause Day helps teams reset, connect, and innovate

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Gone are the days when productivity and performance were all about doing more, all the time. Now, leaders are increasingly aware of the importance of employee wellbeing, and how it can improve productivity without risking burnout. 

One such idea is Pause Day, a concept that originated with Shopify’s CEO and is now embraced here at Omnisend. 

When we implemented it, we thought carefully about how to make it valuable for our employees, including our remote colleagues. The main idea is creating space for spontaneous ideas and developing a sense of community. Real collaboration isn’t the same as scheduled conversations, so it doesn’t happen in meetings or Slack discussions. We have to create the space for it to happen.

Pause Day at Omnisend has been designed to be fun and connect colleagues around the company rather than just their own team members. This is underpinned by making the office an inviting place that people want to come to, with cozy corners, collaboration spaces, physical and video games, snacks and drinks, and a relaxed atmosphere. 

To talk us through the merits of Pause Day, why Omnisend decided to implement it, what it looks like in practice, and why it’s quickly become a cherished part of our culture, we spoke with our Lead of Human Resources, Justina Raškauskienė.

Q&A with Justina Raškauskienė, Lead of HR at Omnisend

Q: What exactly is a Pause Day, it sounds like a day off?

Justina: A Pause Day isn’t a day off, nor is it a “light work” day. It’s a deliberate step away from the usual routines like emails, meetings, and deadlines. We clear our calendar of all work activities, and prioritize things like reflection, creativity, and connecting with our colleagues in different teams. 

Everyone has the space to reset. For some, that’s a creative workshop, for others it’s a gaming competition in the kitchen. When people feel inspired, everything flows better — from daily work to long-term innovation. 

Q: Where did the idea come from?

Justina: The concept originated at Shopify. In 2020, CEO Tobi Lütke introduced Pause Days to help employees disconnect from day-to-day operations and focus on strategy and wellbeing. We loved the idea and adapted it to fit our culture at Omnisend. It’s a great initiative for supporting overall wellbeing, enjoying time together outside of the typical work context. Everybody can communicate and collaborate informally, away from our usual fast pace.

Q: How do employees typically spend a Pause Day?

Justina: That’s the beauty of it, it’s totally up to them! There’s no fixed agenda or requirements. Instead, everyone has the autonomy to create meaningful experiences however they see fit. People are empowered to initiate their own activities and it’s different every time. Some people like to use the space to think through long-term goals, others may organize a creative challenge, and some teams go for a hike together. The range of activities really highlights the different ways that people recharge, and what’s important to them so they can show up the next day feeling refreshed and motivated to reach their goals. 

Q: Why do you think this is more effective than traditional wellness perks?

Justina: Traditional wellness perks often don’t incorporate social connection at work. Those perks — like meditation apps or gym memberships — serve their own purpose and have their benefits, but Pause Day goes deeper. 

This is about actively embedding wellbeing and socialization into the way we work. Pause Days give each person the opportunity to step away from everyday work matters and give them the space to improve their emotional state. It’s very difficult, if not impossible, to get that kind of reflection in a regular workweek. We also know that people’s emotional state is better when they feel seen, included, and part of something. Being in the same room where ideas can happen spontaneously is key to this, but our remote colleagues still have the opportunity to join in games and conversations, and spend their day as they feel suits them best.

Q: Some companies worry about lost productivity. What’s your take?

Justina: Informal interactions are the backbone of effective teams. They’ve been shown to boost creativity, strengthen social cohesion, and contribute to employee engagement. All of these things drive innovation and lead to smoother collaboration and communication. Trust is built when people have had fun and solved silly problems together, and this in turn means the work gets better too.

Pause Day is not a cost on productivity, but actually benefits both the employees and the overall company.

Pause Day: Why it matters

Performance metrics are important, but they aren’t all that matters. Omnisend is proud to be a company where people feel empowered and supported — not only with autonomy in their roles, but in their mental wellbeing too. 

Pause Days reflect this. They’re not time off, so much as they’re investments in the interactions that move the needle on everything else we do. And they demonstrate how Omnisend embeds wellness into the workplace, where every member of the team has the same understanding of why they need to put work tasks down for a day, recharge, and spend time with colleagues.

What our team says

“During Pause Day, my colleagues and I got really high — literally. Someone suggested bouldering, and I decided to give it a go. Turned out to be a lot more fun than I expected!”

— Karolina, Product Designer

“I brought in my FPV drone controller on Pause Day and we ran a flight sim session. It turned into this unexpected deep-dive into tech and focus, totally different from the usual grind. There’s something about stepping sideways like that that resets your thinking.”

— Justinas, Engineering Manager

“What I love the most is that it has no structure. You do what you truly need — a deep talk on a forest walk or just switching off with board games.”

— Andrius, Product Director

Want to work where your wellbeing matters?

If you’re looking for a place that truly values people over hustle, where growth doesn’t come at the cost of burnout, and where taking a pause is seen as a strength, you might feel right at home here.

👉 Explore careers at Omnisend here.