How is Big Tech is Handling Hybrid Work?

Earlier this week, the Washington Post covered how Big Tech will be reopening their offices.

Interestingly, many of these companies offered products to support remote well before the pandemic – however “not all of these companies are sold on a remote future.”

While every company’s return to work/office plan is a bit different, many are suggesting that employees return to the office 2 – 3 days per week.

Below are a few highlights, and the anticipated timelines for these companies to enter the next phase in their employees’ workplace experiences (in alphabetical order).

Amazon

Timeline: Office employees will return summer/fall 2021

Highlights

• Amazon employees had somewhat flexible schedules prior to the pandemic
• Their 11 million sq.ft. Seattle campus was never “fully closed” during COVID-19
• Amazon is planning for an “office-centric culture” going forward
• They feel this culture allows them to “invent, collaborate and learn together most effectively”

Apple

Timeline: Return to work begins September 2021

Highlights

• Most employees will return to the office on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays
• Employees will have the option of working remotely on Wednesdays and Fridays
• Employees will have the option to take 2 – 3 weeks of working vacation, from a location of their choice

Facebook

Timeline: Certain offices will open to employees July 2, 2021

Highlights

• Employees will be able to work from home one day a week
• Some employees can apply to work in a fully remote setting
• Facebook says nearly 90% of fully-remote applications have been approved
• Their work-from-home policies will be fluid, and evolve over time

Google

Timeline: Return to work begins September 2021

Highlights

• Google will adopt a hybrid work week; employees will spend 3 “collaboration days” working in the office
• Potential to take 2 – 3 weeks of working vacation, from a location of an employee’s choice
• Permanently remote staff could be in the range of 20% of total staff
• Looking into innovations like ‘balloon walls’ to inflate for more privacy between open spaces
• Other innovations include circular conference rooms to enhance visibility of all attendees

Microsoft

Timeline: Return to work begins in stages starting April 2021

Highlights

• Microsoft has a 6-step plan for returning to the office, to be phased over time
• Many employees will have the option of working remotely up to 50% of the time
• In-office perks like child-care, shuttles and catering have been adjusted, but will return over time (this applies to Google and others as well)

Salesforce

Timeline: Return to work timing TBD (graduated return based on local markets)

Highlights

• Salesforce is offering a mix of options for their employees, based on location and role. They have 3 primary ways of working (detailed below).
• Flex – flex employees will return to their office 1 – 3 days per week for meetings, presentations and to collaborate with their teams.
• Office Based – a small population of their workforce will return to the office 4 – 5 days per week (if their roles required it).
• Fully Remote – some employees will work in a fully remote setting, if they don’t live near an office or have roles that require in-person attendance.

Slack

Timeline: Return to work timing TBD (likely up to 100% virtual)

Highlights

• Slack will allow employees to apply for permanent remote work, with salaries to be adjusted based on location
• Remote work is important in order to be a progressive and competitive employer, and it also helps to support racial diversity and inclusion
• Rule for video calls – if one meeting attendee has to dial into a meeting, all attendees are required to dial (even if they’re dialing in from desks in their office)

Twitter

Timeline: HQ in San Francisco will re-open on July 12, 2021 (partially)

Highlights

• Planning to work-from-home permanently
• No more assigned desks and team locations
• Twitter will designate certain areas as “quiet” and “social”
• “We’re making sure there’s no advantage for coming into the office, that it’s not a center of gravity”
• However, Twitter feels they are “going to have a mad rush of people wanting to come in…”