Reopening the Workplace: Insights from Slack, Zoom, Samsara, and Pennymac

The Challenges of Reopening the Workplace

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the workplace. Many businesses were forced to close their offices and send their employees home to work remotely. Now, as the pandemic is waning, businesses are beginning to reopen their workplaces. However, they are facing a number of challenges, including:

• How to keep employees safe: Employees are understandably concerned about their safety when returning to the workplace. Businesses need to take steps to reassure employees that their health and safety is a top priority. This may include implementing new safety protocols, such as requiring employees to wear masks and social distance, and providing employees with access to testing and vaccinations.
• How to create a flexible and productive work environment: Many employees have grown accustomed to the flexibility of working from home. Businesses need to find ways to create a flexible work environment that meets the needs of employees while also maintaining productivity. This may include offering hybrid work arrangements, allowing employees to work from home part-time or on a flexible schedule.
• How to manage the costs of reopening: Reopening the workplace can be expensive. Businesses need to factor in the costs of new safety protocols, cleaning and disinfecting, and providing employees with remote work equipment.

Insights from Leaders

Leaders at Slack, Zoom, Samsara, and Pennymac have shared their insights on how they are reopening their workplaces and addressing these challenges.

Slack

Slack is a leading provider of workplace collaboration software. The company has been remote-first since its inception, but it is now reopening its offices in a hybrid model. Slack has taken a number of steps to keep employees safe, including requiring employees to be vaccinated and implementing a mandatory mask policy. The company has also invested in making its offices more flexible and productive, such as by adding more collaboration spaces and hot desks.

Zoom

Zoom is a leading provider of video conferencing software. The company has been remote-first since its inception, but it is now reopening its offices in a hybrid model. Zoom has taken a number of steps to keep employees safe, including requiring employees to be vaccinated and implementing a mandatory mask policy. The company has also invested in making its offices more flexible and productive, such as by adding more collaboration spaces and hot desks.

Samsara

Samsara is a leading provider of IoT solutions for businesses. The company has been remote-first since its inception, but it is now reopening its offices in a hybrid model. Samsara has taken a number of steps to keep employees safe, including requiring employees to be vaccinated and implementing a mandatory mask policy. The company has also invested in making its offices more flexible and productive, such as by adding more collaboration spaces and hot desks.

Pennymac

Pennymac is a leading mortgage lender. The company has been remote-first since its inception, but it is now reopening its offices in a hybrid model. Pennymac has taken a number of steps to keep employees safe, including requiring employees to be vaccinated and implementing a mandatory mask policy. The company has also invested in making its offices more flexible and productive, such as by adding more collaboration spaces and hot desks.

Conclusion

The reopening of the workplace is a complex challenge. However, by following the insights of leaders at Slack, Zoom, Samsara, and Pennymac, businesses can create a safe, flexible, and productive work environment for their employees.

Here are some key takeaways from the insights of these leaders:

• Prioritize the health and safety of employees. This means implementing safety protocols, providing employees with access to testing and vaccinations, and being flexible with work arrangements.
• Create a flexible and productive work environment. This means offering hybrid work arrangements, allowing employees to work from home part-time or on a flexible schedule, and investing in making offices more collaborative and productive.
• Manage the costs of reopening. This means carefully considering the costs of new safety protocols, cleaning and disinfecting, and providing employees with remote work equipment.

By following these insights, businesses can reopen their workplaces in a way that meets the needs of their employees and their business.

Slack's Return to Office Plan: What We've Learned So Far Zoom's Return to Office Plan Samsara's Return to Office Plan Pennymac's Return to Office Plan