Category: RemoteWorkingTrends

Google Wants Employees to Share a Desk

Google is taking an unusual approach to bringing people back to the office, asking them to share a desk.

Like many in the tech industry, Google has been working to bring employees back to the office at least part-time. According to an internal document seen by CNBC, the company is looking to optimize its use of real estate by asking some employees to share a desk on alternating days.

“Most Googlers will now share a desk with one other Googler,” the internal document stated, describing a system of alternate work days so desks don’t have two people using them at the same time. “Through the matching process, they will agree on a basic desk setup and establish norms with their desk partner and teams to ensure a positive experience in the new shared environment.”

In the event someone comes into work on an off-day when their desk will be in use, they will have to use “overflow drop-in space.”

Google’s approach is a novel one to the new normal in which hybrid workflows require rethinking traditional office space requirements.

February 27, 2023
Amazon Wants Employees In-Office Three Days a Week
Amazon has informed employees that they must return to the office three days a week, reversing a previous remote work policy.

In October 2021, Amazon’s leadership decided to leave it up to individual teams to dictate whether members would need to be in-office or could work remotely. At the time, executives acknowledged that no one-size-fits-all approach would work effectively. The company appears to be reversing course, with CEO Andy Jassy telling employees in an email they must work from the office at least three days a week.

Jassy highlighted a number of lessons learned over the nearly three years of the pandemic:
- It’s easier to learn, model, practice, and strengthen our culture when we’re in the office together most of the time and surrounded by our colleagues. It’s especially true for new people (and we’ve hired a lot of people in the pandemic); but it’s also true for people of all tenures at Amazon.
- Collaborating and inventing is easier and more effective when we’re in person. The energy and riffing on one another’s ideas happen more freely.
- Learning from one another is easier in-person. Being able to walk a few feet to somebody’s space and ask them how to do something or how they’ve handled a particular situation is much easier than Chiming or Slacking them.
- Teams tend to be better connected to one another when they see each other in person more frequently.
After discussing in more detail each of the above four factors, Jassy revealed the conclusion these observations led to:

These are just a few examples, but they’re important ones with respect to our overriding priority to deliver for customers and the business. And ultimately, they’ve led us to conclude that we should go back to being in the office together the majority of the time (at least three days per week). We made this decision at a s-team meeting earlier this week, and for a number of reasons (including the adjustments I know will be required for some of our employees), I wanted to share with you as early as I could even though we haven’t worked out all the execution details yet.

While acknowledging that there are some roles on both ends of the spectrum that will be exceptions to the rule, Jassy says these “will be a small minority.” For everyone else, these changes will go into effect May 1.
February 17, 2023
DocuSign Is Laying Off 10% of Its Staff

DocuSign has filed paperwork with the SEC indicating it plans to lay off 10% of its employees, or roughly 700 individuals.

DocuSign experienced rapid growth during the pandemic as record numbers of people worked remotely, making digital document signing a critical component of day-to-day operations. As many companies have experienced, however, with the economic downturn has come a reduced need for many of the products and services that were flying high just months before.

The company described the layoffs as a “restructuring plan”:

On February 16, 2023, DocuSign, Inc. (the “Company”) announced a restructuring plan (the “Restructuring Plan”) that is designed to support the Company’s growth, scale and profitability objectives. As part of the Restructuring Plan, the Company expects it will restructure and reduce its current workforce by approximately 10%, primarily in the Company’s worldwide field organization.

Interestingly, the company expects to pay $25 to $35 million to implement this plan:

The Company currently estimates that it will incur charges of approximately $25 to $35 million in connection with the Restructuring Plan, consisting primarily of cash expenditures for employee transition, notice period and severance payments, employee benefits, and related costs as well as non-cash expenses related to vesting of share-based awards. The Company expects that the majority of the restructuring charges will be incurred in the first quarter of fiscal 2024, and that the execution of the Restructuring Plan will be substantially complete by the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2024.

February 17, 2023
Woman Ordered to Repay Her Employer for ‘Time Theft’

A woman has been ordered to repay her employer after it was discovered that she misrepresented the amount of time she worked.

Karlee Besse, a woman in Canada, was working remotely as an accountant. When she was fired from her job, she accused her employer of wrongful termination, but there was much more to the story.

According to The Guardian, her employer was able to prove she had logged hours despite not actually working during the time in question, thanks to time-tracking software on her computer.

A civilian tribunal has sided with the employer, Reach CPA, ordering Besse to repay C$2,459.89 in wages and part of an advance.

The case could well set a precedent for remote workers, ensuring companies get what they’re paying for, and serving as a warning to employees that would try to cheat the system.

January 13, 2023
Snap to Require Employees In-Office in February

Snap appears to be doing an about-face on remote work, requiring the majority of employees in-office in February.

Like many tech companies, Snap has embraced remote work since early in the pandemic. The company even announced it was closing its San Francisco offices as a result of remote work. The company now appears to be reversing course, informing employees they will be transitioning to an 80/20 hybrid model, with 80% of employees working from the office.

“After working remotely for so long, we’re excited to get everyone back together next year with our new 80/20 hybrid model,” the company spokesperson told Reuters.

The news marks a major blow to remote work, given Snap’s early support of it.

November 28, 2022
Remote Challenges and Technology Solutions

Remote work has seen a surge and fall unlike most anything else. COVID-19 put the world into a state it had never seen before, requiring radical change. Lockdowns, remote work, social isolation, these became essential terms for the average citizen across multiple nations. As the years passed most were more than happy to see those times pass.

Lockdowns, for example, have become a triggering term for many. There are lots of things citizens can do for the safety of their nation, but lockdowns are now a touchy term. Although not all side effects of COVID are seen as negatively. Digital services in particular have become an incredible practical side effect. Telehealth, for example, is now incredibly popular and practical.

The Rise of Remote Work

Remote work at large, across all industries, is something that’s here to stay. By 2025, 22% of the entire workforce is predicted to be remote. This comes as no surprise for the many remote workers of today. Countless testimonies of the life changing force that is remote work have made it a popular choice. Remote workers overall report being 22% happier, as well as 30% more productive.

Looking at this, on top of the reduced costs of commuting, make it hard to see any downsides. Although naturally, remote work is not a perfect system. On top of any issues around technology and general accessibility, remote workers are very prone to burnout. 75% of all remote workers experience some form of stress and burnout at work.

The reasons for this are very diverse, 43% of remote workers report working more than 40 hours for example. This seems to come as a consequence of how hard it is to disconnect from virtual work. Time feels meaningless and endless when it’s spent working at a home computer. Simultaneously, distractions are very common and taxing for the average remote worker.

Remote Work Demands Better Solutions

These seem like hard problems to solve. There are temporary tips to the trade, things like taking lunch away from one’s computer. Yet this serves as more of a refresher than an actual solution to the issue. One solution that looks more centrally at the route is time tracking. Interestingly, a detailed log of what an employee does serves to fix many of the issues above.

Time feeling endless, for example, becomes less of an issue with time tracking. Suddenly there’s a log of what was physically done and a description of how time was spent. This also helps to bring order and ensure that breaks are being properly taken. It’s easy for remote workers to breeze through breaks, but time tracking reminds them that they’re available.

Employees being distracted is also easy to alleviate with time tracking. Suddenly there’s accountability for the minutes or hours spent doing nothing, checking email. And even more importantly there’s a log of potentially useless meetings or activities. Workers can more accurately articulate problems with the job while also being held accountable.

In Conclusion

There’s lots of ways to track time as an employer. From the most non-intrusive like self-logs to something more robust like facial recognition. Each has its ups and downs, although it seems the industry is tending towards more modern solutions. Physical timesheets are simply too prone to human error and take up man hours. Facial recognition works by instead using AI to keep track of all an employee does. Regardless, remote work is imperfect, and time tracking starts to address some of the key issues of it.

Source: TrackTime24.com

November 13, 2022
Elon Musk Kills Remote Work at Twitter

The changes at Twitter keep on rolling in, with new boss Elon Musk killing off remote work in an email to staff.

Like many tech companies, Twitter embraced remote and hybrid work during the pandemic and has kept those policies in place as things have returned to normal. The writing was on the wall, however, with few tech bosses being more anti-remote work than Elon Musk.

According to Bloomberg, Musk has killed remote work in his first email to Twitter staff. He said there was “no way to sugarcoat the message” and said the economic headwinds required new rules, including that all employees be in the office at least 40 hours a week. Musk he would consider any exceptions on a case-by-case basis.

Musk made clear that one of the company’s primary goals should be eliminating spam/bot accounts.

“The road ahead is arduous and will require intense work to succeed,” Musk wrote. In another email, he said that “over the next few days, the absolute top priority is finding and suspending any verified bots/trolls/spam.”

November 10, 2022
Zoom Is Coming to a Tesla Near You

In the ‘what could possibly go wrong?’ department, Tesla and Zoom are working together to bring video conferencing to the automaker’s vehicles.

Zoom is one of the leading video conferencing platforms and became a poster child for remote and hybrid work during the pandemic. The platform’s adoption skyrocketed across the workplace, education sector, and people’s personal lives.

Zoom is expanding to its next frontier, making it possible to video conference from your car, in a collaboration with Tesla. According to Drive Tesla Canada, the collaboration was announced at the Zoomtopia 2022 event by Nitasha Walia, Zoom’s Group Product Manager, Meetings.

While the announcement was light on details, the video provides a preview of the feature in action.

November 9, 2022
Federal Employees Want More Remote Work Options

Federal employees want more remote work options amid an economy that has increasingly embraced remote work.

The COVID-19 pandemic ushered in an unprecedented shift to remote and hybrid work. As things have returned to normal, many companies have adapted to the changing workforce, while others have tried to enforce a return to the office. Federal employees are among those questioning why they have to come into the office at all.

Federal News Network conducted a survey of federal employees, finding some 64% were overall “satisfied with their current work situation.” Nonetheless, the requirement for workers to be in the office at least one day a week was an issue for some.

“We’ve been fully remote for over two years. The hybrid is a very difficult adjustment. The mission has been accomplished with no interruption, so why the requirement to be in the office?” one respondent wrote.

“All of my work can be done remotely. There is no need to come to the office to work. My supervisor just likes to have a presence in the office building,” another respondent wrote.

The survey’s results are not surprising and reflect the views and attitudes held by many of those in the larger workplace.

November 2, 2022
Snap Closing Its San Francisco Offices Amid the Move to Remote Work

Snap’s latest move is bad news for San Francisco as the company is closing its 33,000-square-foot offices.

Like many companies, Snap is adjusting to post-pandemic norms. The has announced it will shut down its San Francisco office, according to Bloomberg, thanks to an increasing reliance on remote work.

“Our San Francisco location was lightly used by team members following our move to flexible work,” the company told Bloomberg.

Snap had already laid off 20% of its staff as a result of slower-than-anticipated growth and announced plans to restructure in an effort to spur growth and execute its strategic priorities.

While the move is sure to help Snap, it’s bad news for San Francisco at a time when the city is trying to revitalize its office sector and lure companies back.

October 24, 2022
United Airlines CEO Credits Hybrid Work With Buoying Airline Industry

While many executives are not a fan of hybrid work, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby sees it as a boon for the airline industry.

The airline industry is facing a challenging recovery from the pandemic. Travel hit new lows as countries locked down as a result of COVID. While things are returning to normal, the airline industry is still struggling to return to its former levels. Kirby sees hybrid work as a big factor that can aid the industry’s recovery.

According to Fox News, Kirby said at the company’s earnings call that hybrid work is responsible for a “permanent structural change.” Thanks to the workplace trend, the CEO says “every weekend could be a holiday weekend.”

“That’s why September, a normally off-peak month, was the third-strongest month in our history,” he said. “People want to travel and have experiences, and hybrid work environments untether them from the office and give them the newfound flexibility to travel far more often than normal.”

“This is not pent-up demand,” Kirby added. “It’s the new normal.”

October 20, 2022
Amazon Wants Call Center Employees to Work From Home So It Can Close Offices

Amazon is bucking a trend among some of the biggest tech companies, urging its call center employees to work from home.

Many of the world’s biggest tech companies are trying to get their employees to come back to the office in an effort to return to normal. According to a report by Bloomberg, Amazon is taking a different approach by encouraging its US call center employees to work from home. The outlet’s sources indicated the move is driven by the company’s desire to close some offices and save on real estate.

Read more: Amazon Raising Front-Line Worker Pay to an Average of $19 per Hour

While a company spokesperson did not comment on real estate plans, they confirmed the preference for remote work in some roles.

“We’re offering additional members of our customer service team the increased flexibility that comes with working virtually,” Amazon spokesman Brad Glasser told Bloomberg. “We’re working with employees to make sure their transition is seamless while continuing to prioritize best-in-class support for customers.”

Amazon’s approach is a refreshing alternative to Apple and Google. Both companies have upset employees by aggressively pushing them to return to the office. In contrast, Amazon appears to be acknowledging that some jobs don’t require in-person employees and can be done just as well remotely. Rather than something to avoid, Amazon appears to recognize that it can benefit from such a transition.

September 29, 2022
For Americans, Remote Work = Living the Dream

A new poll indicates that two out of five Americans are living the dream, thanks to remote work.

Work from home (WFH) gained a major boost as a result of the pandemic, but many companies are trying to force a return to the office (RTO). A new poll by OnePoll, on behalf of DoorDash, is giving a major boost to WFH and throwing cold water on RTO plans.

According to the poll, two in five Americans attribute remote work to their living the dream. In fact, 42% of the 2,000 polled prefer mostly remote work, with only occasional in-office work days. When asked which they would choose exclusively, 26% would choose full remote, while only 9% would choose to be in the office full time.

Interestingly, the poll also showed how employees are currently working, with 39% spending the majority of their time working remotely. Nearly one-quarter, or 24%, are exclusively remote. Even more telling is the fact that only one in five workers have more in-person workdays than remote.

Not All Activities Are Equal

Despite the strong preference for remote work, there are some things the respondents would prefer to do in person. For example, 57% vs 30% prefer in-person one-on-one meetings, while 51% vs 28% prefer in-office activities.

Similarly, 51% vs 31% prefer in-person social activities and 46% vs 32% prefer in-person happy hours.

“As companies are looking for solutions to support flexible work, food plays a leading role in maintaining a positive culture. It acts as a catalyst for employees to better connect with their teams, supports employee satisfaction and productivity, and inspires lasting memories through social gatherings over meals,” said Manushika Gabriel, Director & General Manager, DoorDash for Work.

Overall, the poll should be a warning to companies not to push too hard for RTO policies. While 36% of respondents believe their company’s culture had improved since the pandemic began, roughly half said they planned on leaving their job within the next year. It’s not hard to imagine many of those potential defections may be driven by increasingly aggressive RTO plans.

September 21, 2022
Tesla in Trouble Over Misguided Return-to-Office Policies

Tesla is in turmoil over return-to-office (RTO) policies that don’t reflect the realities the company and its employees are facing.

CEO Elon Musk made it very clear in June that he wanted the company’s office-based employees in the office, or he would take their absence as a sign of resignation.

“Anyone who wishes to do remote work must be in the office for a minimum (and I mean ‘minimum’) of 40 hours per week or depart Tesla,” Musk wrote in an email with the subject line “Remote work is no longer acceptable.”

The only problem is, Tesla is not properly equipped to handle a full RTO transition. According to CNBC, the company was generally open to remote work prior to the pandemic. As a result, when the company went through various phases of expansion, it didn’t always build out with the goal of having 100% of its employees in-office all the time. Now Telsa finds itself without the workstations or office equipment it needs to meet Musk’s demands.

To make matters worse, Tesla is increasing its surveillance of employees, including sending weekly reports to Musk detailing employee absenteeism.

According to CNBC, Musk’s policies are leading to a decline in morale. The decline is especially sharp among teams that could work remotely before the pandemic but are now expected to be in the office.

Only time will tell if Tesla walks back its RTO policies. In the meantime, it should at least consider buying its employees desks so being in the office isn’t quite as miserable an experience.

September 19, 2022
The ‘Great Resignation’ Is Taking a Major Toll and Changing the Workplace

The “Great Resignation” continues to take a major toll on companies and their return-to-office (RTO) plans but is benefiting a key demographic.

Companies have been dealing with the Great Resignation since early 2021. Many employees’ view of work was forever changed as a result of the pandemic and the realization their jobs could be done remotely just as well. A new report by A.Team and MassChallenge is shedding light on just how disruptive the Great Resignation has been.

According to the report, “44% of tech founders & execs say that a significant number of their top performers have exited due to the Great Resignation.” To make matters worse, 67% say traditional hiring methods don’t work, and 62% say it takes an average of four months or more to hire top talent, especially in product and engineering.

Despite the challenges the Great Resignation is causing, freelancers are one demographic that is benefiting as companies increasingly rely on them to fill in the gaps. In fact, 73% of tech companies now report blended teams consisting of full-time employees and freelancers. What’s more, 71% say that freelancers help their business be more agile, especially in the face of economic uncertainty.

Failure to Fully Embrace Remote Work

Interestingly, despite recognizing the benefits of flexible and remote work, many companies are still eager to return to the status quo.

The report shows that 62% of companies surveyed believe they are seeing better results from a flexible work model, yet 37% want to increase the amount of time employees spend in the office. The number is even higher among more established Series B, C, D, E and public companies, reaching 55%.

It’s a safe bet that as long as companies continue pushing for a return to the pre-pandemic status quo, the Great Resignation will continue. In other words, companies’ insistence on returning to normal will likely end up destroying the very “normal” they’re trying to achieve.

September 18, 2022
Google Follows Microsoft in Restricting Business Travel

Google is following Microsoft’s lead, restricting business travel for all but the most important circumstances.

Microsoft began restricting business travel last month over economic concerns. Google is now following suit, according to a leaked email seen by The Information, via Forbes. The emails says the company is setting a “high bar” for travel, and such instances should only be for “business critical” trips.

The email put the kibosh on social functions, team off-sites, and in-person meetings that could be handled via videoconferencing.

As Forbes points out, the trend could spell more trouble for the travel industry, which is still coping with the aftermath of the pandemic. While recreational travel has rebounded to some extent, business travel has lagged behind.

“Our largest corporates are the ones that are lagging — particularly banking, consulting and technology — who previously were among our top-tier travelers now are on the lower side,” Andrew Watterson, Southwest Airlines’ chief commercial officer, said in a July earnings call, according to Forbes.

In addition to travel, Google’s stance could be a boon for remote work, especially with the company instructing employees to videoconference where possible. Like many companies, Google has been working to bring employees back to the office. If economic concerns continue to mount, however, remote work may experience a resurgence.

September 8, 2022
Apple Employees Once Again Push Back Against Apple RTO Plans

Apple employees are once again pushing back against the company’s return-to-office plans (RTO).

Apple notified employees in mid-August that they would be required to work from the office at least three days a week, starting September 5. Employees are pushing back, demanding more flexibility than Apple wants to give.

Tim Cook has made no secret of his belief in in-person collaboration, but according to Engadget, employee group Apple Together says the reality doesn’t match up with Cook’s idealized concept. Instead, the company’s secrecy makes collaborative inspiration too difficult to be practical. As a result, the group argues, employees should at least be given a work environment that results in improved well-being and happiness.

This isn’t the first time employees have pushed back against the company’s RTO plans. In fact, employees have penned several open letters to management demanding the flexibility to continue working remotely.

One such letter even included the following ultimatum:

“Stop treating us like school kids who need to be told when to be where and what homework to do.”

“Here we are, the smart people that you hired, and we are telling you what to do: Please get out of our way, there is no one-size-fits-all solution, let us decide how we work best, and let us do the best work of our lives.”

Evidently, Apple has already made at least one concession with its latest plans. Originally, the company wanted employees in the office Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday but dropped Monday as a pre-defined office day as a result of the pushback. Instead, it is defining Tuesdays and Thursdays as in-office days, with the third left up to each team.

It remains to be seen if Apple will budge any more or if it will take a hard line on its latest plans. Given that its RTO plans have already cost the company its head of AI, there may be additional concessions in the future if the pushback grows.

August 23, 2022
Apple Requires Employees In the Office Three Days a Week

Apple has resumed its return-to-office (RTO) efforts, telling corporate employees they need to be in the office three days a week.

Few major companies have faced as much pushback as Apple over RTO plans. The company’s head of AI quit over the issue, and employees have written several open letters condemning the company’s plans. Apple put its efforts on pause but is now resuming them, according to Bloomberg.

Apple has notified employees that the new deadline to be in the office three days a week is September 5. Tuesdays and Thursdays are mandatory, with a regular third day to be set by individual teams.

It remains to be seen how employees will take the change.

August 16, 2022
AT&T Employees Push Back Against Return-to-Office Plans

AT&T employees are pushing back against the company’s return-to-office (RTO) plans, saying they can do their work just fine from home.

AT&T is the latest company to struggle with the new normal that has come about as a result of the pandemic. Apple, Google, Microsoft, Facebook, and others have all struggled to navigate a changed workplace landscape. AT&T is the latest to face stiff opposition to its RTO plans.

According to The Guardian, AT&T is accused of going back on an agreement it made with employees to allow them to work from home until at least March 2023. The company is now requiring many of its workers to come back to the office. Employees are pushing back, citing commute times, exorbitant childcare costs, and concerns over COVID as motivations for wanting to continue working from home. What’s more, many employees see tangible benefits they didn’t previously enjoy.

“These are extremely stressful times over the last few years and being at home has allowed us to have less distractions, giving us better one-on-one time with our customers and our clients,” said James Bloch, an AT&T employee of over 21 years, regarding the mental health, physical health, productivity, and climate benefits of remote work. “With AT&T technology, they’re a communication company. We have some of the best stuff out there. Let’s use it. We can do the same job from home anywhere that we could do if we were all sitting there together.”

Employees have signed a petition for AT&T to make work from home a permanent option.

“Now is the time to make Work From Home (WFH) a permanent option for AT&T Call Center workers, Teleconference Specialists, Communications Technicians, and other eligible work titles,” the petition reads.

“The WFH arrangement has proven extremely beneficial to the workers and the company. WFH provided a safer, more convenient work environment and minimized the spread of COVID-19 among the workforce. Production and attendance rates are both way up. WFH was a necessary adjustment that has proven tremendously popular in what continues to be uncertain times.”

August 16, 2022
California, Texas, and New York Are the Best States for Remote Work

A new report sheds light on the state of remote work, with California, Texas, and New York topping the list of remote work states.

Remote work reached an all-time high during the pandemic. Even as things return to normal, hybrid and remote work are here to stay, with many companies embracing the change on a permanent basis. Despite the widespread transition to remote and hybrid work, some states are more favorable than others.

According to Coresignal, California leads the US in remote work, with more than 15% of the remote job market. Texas came in second with just under 10%, while New York came in third with a little more than 5%.

IT & Services, Internet, and Social Organization account for more than half of remote jobs. Given California’s status as the hub of the US tech industry, it’s unsurprising it came out on top. The same can be said of Texas, which has been working to establish itself as an alternative to California, with Tesla, Oracle, and Hewlett Packard Enterprise all moving their headquarters from California to Texas. New York, of course, has always been another center of business and tech.

Remote Work Has Declined, but Outlook Remains Strong

Another interesting insight from Coresignal’s report is that remote work has dropped since the peak of the pandemic.

Remote jobs in the US reached their peak in late 2021, during the Delta surge, reaching approximately 16%. As the pandemic waned, remote jobs dropped to roughly 14.1% in early 2022.

The findings seem to indicate that, while remote work’s fortunes are closely tied to the pandemic, the trend is gaining enough traction that it will remain a long-term option. Despite the world largely returning to normal, remote work has only declined a couple of percentage points from its all-time high.

August 1, 2022
Etsy Closing Offices As Employees Keep Working Remotely

Etsy has announced it is closing its Hudson, NY and San Francisco, CA offices in response to employees continuing to work remotely.

Companies of all sizes have been trying to adapt to the new normal brought about by the pandemic. Some have tried to return to the old way of doing things, requiring workers to be in the office, while others have embraced remote and hybrid workflows.

Etsay appears to be firmly in the latter camp, going so far as to close some of its offices as a result of remote work.

“Supported by Etsy’s robust hybrid framework, many who are currently remote have told us they do not plan to return to an office in the near future,” writes Kim Seymour, the company’s chief HR officer. “As a result, we are closing our offices in Hudson, NY and San Francisco, CA, where employee office utilization has been extremely low. One of our guiding principles is minimizing waste, and operating offices that go predominately unused is in direct opposition to that principle – wasting energy, capital and internal programming efforts. As part of our new Hub Strategy model, Etsy employees based out of those offices will be transitioning to the fully remote work mode. We’ll continue to ensure they are supported, able to work productively, and can effectively collaborate with colleagues, with our offices in Brooklyn HQ as their hub office.”

Read more: Marc Andreessen: Remote Work Is ‘Potentially an Earthquake…Turning Point for Society’

Beyond this specific move, Etsy’s flexible work policies have significantly benefited the company and reduced employee churn, even in the midst of the “Great Resignation.”

“More than 80% view our policies on how and where we work favorably,” Seymour adds. “Beyond what our teams are saying, our flexible model has enabled Etsy to keep recruiting and retain talent across industries as we expand globally. We’ve grown our Etsy workforce by 50% since before the pandemic, and our attrition levels have consistently remained well below both industry benchmarks and our own expectations, even as a “Great Resignation” has dominated the market.”

Etsy clearly has figured out what works for the company and its employees, settling on a new normal that all parties are benefiting from.

July 27, 2022