<p>In February, computer maker Dell circulated a memo among its employees outlining significant changes in its remote work policies. The memo, according to reports, delineated between "hybrid" and "remote" workers. Hybrid employees were mandated to spend at least three days each week in an approved office space.</p>

<p>Remote workers received notable news in the memo: while they were permitted to continue working from home, they were effectively sidelined from promotional opportunities. The memo explicitly stated that remote workers would not be considered for promotions or permitted to switch roles within the company. Notably, advancement within Dell's ranks would necessitate a transition to the hybrid work model, as reported by Business Insider.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Reports indicate varied responses among Dell employees to this policy overhaul. Some expressed sentiments of discontentment and disillusionment, highlighting a departure from the company's previous emphasis on the quality of work rather than physical location.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"For remote team members, it is important to understand the trade-offs: Career advancement, including applying to new roles in the company, will require a team member to reclassify as hybrid onsite," the memo said, as cited by Business Insider.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;As bosses withdraw indefinite Work from Home, do employees want to return to office?| WION Fineprint</strong></p>

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<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/a-new-study-has-revealed-an-interesting-perk-of-working-from-home-and-not-just-for-the-employees-574193">Also read |&nbsp;A new study has revealed an interesting perk of working from home, and not just for the employees</a></p>

<p>However, the new mandate has generated widespread dissatisfaction, with employees voicing concerns over its potential impact on their career trajectories and work-life balance. Many fear the loss of upward mobility and the erosion of the flexibility they once enjoyed. The prevailing sentiment among employees seems to be one of apprehension and frustration, with discussions reverberating throughout the company about the perceived drawbacks of the policy shift.</p>

<h2><strong>Dell's policy shift and its ripple effects</strong></h2>

<p>Dell's decision to implement stringent return-to-office policies, particularly regarding promotion&nbsp;eligibility for remote workers, marks a significant departure from its previous approach to remote work. This directive has sparked internal discourse and raised questions about the future dynamics of work within the company.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


In February, computer maker Dell circulated a memo among its employees outlining significant changes in its remote work policies. The memo, according to reports, delineated between "hybrid" and "remote" workers.

In February, computer maker Dell circulated a memo among its employees outlining significant changes in its remote work policies. The memo, according to reports, delineated between "hybrid" and "remote" workers. Hybrid employees were mandated to spend at least three days each week in an approved office space. Remote workers received notable news in the memo: while they were permitted to continue working from home, they were effectively sidelined from promotional opportunities. The memo explicitly stated that remote workers would not be considered for promotions or permitted to switch roles within the company. Notably, advancement within Dell's ranks would necessitate a transition to the hybrid work model, as reported by Business Insider. Reports indicate varied responses among Dell employees to this policy overhaul. Some expressed sentiments of discontentment and disillusionment, highlighting a departure from the company's previous emphasis on the quality of work rather than physical location. "For remote team members, it is important to understand the trade-offs: Career advancement, including applying to new roles in the company, will require a team member to reclassify as hybrid onsite," the memo said, as cited by Business Insider. Also watch | As bosses withdraw indefinite Work from Home, do employees want to return to office?| WION Fineprint Also read | A new study has revealed an interesting perk of working from home, and not just for the employees However, the new mandate has generated widespread dissatisfaction, with employees voicing concerns over its potential impact on their career trajectories and work-life balance. Many fear the loss of upward mobility and the erosion of the flexibility they once enjoyed. The prevailing sentiment among employees seems to be one of apprehension and frustration, with discussions reverberating throughout the company about the perceived drawbacks of the policy shift. Dell's policy shift and its ripple effects Dell's decision to implement stringent return-to-office policies, particularly regarding promotion eligibility for remote workers, marks a significant departure from its previous approach to remote work. This directive has sparked internal discourse and raised questions about the future dynamics of work within the company. (With inputs from agencies)

Dell sends shocking memo to employees saying no promotion to those who work from home

India's tech industry is bidding farewell to remote work, as companies unveil new mandates calling their employees back to the office. From Infosys to Tata Consultancy Services, we'll explore how the work-from-home era is giving way to a new normal. We'll also discuss the impact on employees, the rise of hybrid work models, and the ongoing debate over a 70-hour workweek.

Work from home to work from office | World Business Watch

<p>US tech giant <strong>Amazon </strong>is tracking and punishing employees who are not spending enough time in the office, according to an email sent to its employees by the administration earlier this week.</p>

<p>Some of the company’s staff members received a warning from Amazon on Wednesday (August 9) which said they were “not currently meeting our expectation of joining your colleagues in the office at least three days a week,” reported Financial Times.</p>

<p>A statement by Amazon clarified that the alert was sent to those employees who “have come into the office fewer than three days a week for five or more of the past eight weeks.”</p>

<p>The company acknowledged it could have alerted some of its employees by mistake and it encouraged them to report their attendance to the Human Resource team.</p>

<h2><strong>Amazon facing resistance</strong></h2>

<p>Amazon’s recent move reflects a wider trend in the US tech sector of encouraging employees to return to the office. The company tracks attendance through badge tap-ins, as done by Google.</p>

<p>However, the company has faced resistance from the workers, who now prefer the current hybrid or completely remote setup.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amazon-workers-from-two-fulfilment-centers-in-uk-to-stage-strikes-over-pay-dispute-619956"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Amazon workers from two facilities in UK to stage strikes over pay dispute</strong></a></p>

<p>Recently, some Amazon workers staged a walkout over the return-to-office mandate.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Current status</strong></h2>

<p>As per a report by Morning Consult, about 85 per cent of tech workers are working either hybrid or&nbsp;fully remote. The figure fared around 50 per cent in May 2022, and was at around 20 per cent before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.</p>

<p>Now, studies have shown that workers don’t want to return to office despite efforts by their employers. A Morning Consult report cited by the Guardian noted that three in five tech workers were not interested in returning to the office full-time.</p>

<h2><strong>Wider trend among US tech companies</strong></h2>

<p>Amazon has joined the ranks of companies encouraging employees to come back to the office. In March, Apple initiated measures to penalise employees who didn't return part-time, and Elon Musk, upon becoming X’s CEO, also mandated a full-time return.</p>

<p>Advocates for workers' rights argue that forcing employees back to the office could bolster the burgeoning labour movement in the tech industry.</p>

<p><b>Watch:&nbsp;Apple services grow but iPhone sales decline, Amazon reports best earnings since 2020</b></p>

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<p>This push to return coincides with a new surge of COVID-19 cases in the US, highlighting the risks that initially prompted the shift to remote work.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Hospitalisations and deaths due to Covid have risen by 12.5 per cent and 10 per cent, respectively, in the past week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.&nbsp;</p>

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US tech giant Amazon is tracking and punishing employees who are not spending enough time in the office, according to an email sent to its employees by the administration earlier this week.

US tech giant Amazon is tracking and punishing employees who are not spending enough time in the office, according to an email sent to its employees by the administration earlier this week. Some of the company’s staff members received a warning from Amazon on Wednesday (August 9) which said they were “not currently meeting our expectation of joining your colleagues in the office at least three days a week,” reported Financial Times. A statement by Amazon clarified that the alert was sent to those employees who “have come into the office fewer than three days a week for five or more of the past eight weeks.” The company acknowledged it could have alerted some of its employees by mistake and it encouraged them to report their attendance to the Human Resource team. Amazon facing resistance Amazon’s recent move reflects a wider trend in the US tech sector of encouraging employees to return to the office. The company tracks attendance through badge tap-ins, as done by Google. However, the company has faced resistance from the workers, who now prefer the current hybrid or completely remote setup. Also read: Amazon workers from two facilities in UK to stage strikes over pay dispute Recently, some Amazon workers staged a walkout over the return-to-office mandate. Current status As per a report by Morning Consult, about 85 per cent of tech workers are working either hybrid or fully remote. The figure fared around 50 per cent in May 2022, and was at around 20 per cent before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, studies have shown that workers don’t want to return to office despite efforts by their employers. A Morning Consult report cited by the Guardian noted that three in five tech workers were not interested in returning to the office full-time. Wider trend among US tech companies Amazon has joined the ranks of companies encouraging employees to come back to the office. In March, Apple initiated measures to penalise employees who didn't return part-time, and Elon Musk, upon becoming X’s CEO, also mandated a full-time return. Advocates for workers' rights argue that forcing employees back to the office could bolster the burgeoning labour movement in the tech industry. Watch: Apple services grow but iPhone sales decline, Amazon reports best earnings since 2020 × This push to return coincides with a new surge of COVID-19 cases in the US, highlighting the risks that initially prompted the shift to remote work. Hospitalisations and deaths due to Covid have risen by 12.5 per cent and 10 per cent, respectively, in the past week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Amazon issues warning to employees not spending enough time in office

<p><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>Reports suggest that Google is having a tough time bringing its employees back to the office despite operating in a hybrid model, that is, work-from-office thrice a week. As per CNBC reports, Google now plans to track employees' attendance and movement within the office, which might be factored in during performance reviews. As expected, the move is not going well with staffers. A few employees even told the publication that the company is treating staffers like "schoolchildren."</p>

<p>An internal document obtained by CNBC draws attention to the attendance-tracking measure instated to help managers track "who hasn't been in the office frequently enough".</p>

<p dir="ltr">Additionally, Google employees who previously received approval for remote operations will now have that status reevaluated.</p>

<p dir="ltr">The CNBC report cites a Google spokesperson who noted&nbsp;the badge data collected is aggregated for company leaders.</p>

<p dir="ltr">The spokesperson adds, "Now that we've fully transitioned to the hybrid work week, company leaders can see reports showing how their teams are adopting the hybrid work model." Google clarified that the company does not share or include individual badge data in its internal reports. The spokesperson also said the company was "limiting remote work to exception only."</p>

<p dir="ltr"><strong>Also read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/eus-new-antitrust-charges-to-strike-googles-most-successful-ads-model-603673">EU’s new antitrust charges to strike Google’s most successful ads model</a></p>

<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>Why does Google want to switch to the work-from-office model?</strong></h2>

<p dir="ltr">The report suggests that Google wants to make optimum use of its expansive offices, at least the ones in the US. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Google was known for its various on-campus perks for employees, including massages, yoga classes, and laundry services. However, several employee benefits were scrapped to cut down expenses amid macroeconomic tribulations</p>

<p dir="ltr">Many Google workers also want to continue working remotely owing to the cost involved in relocation.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">Chris Schmidt, a Software engineer at Google and a member of the Alphabet Workers Union-CWA, questions Google's strict hybrid work policy as there are not enough desks for workers.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Schmidt told CNBC, "New York City workers do not even have enough desks and conference rooms for workers to use comfortably."</p>

<p dir="ltr">The report points out that Google’s process of providing lockers to let employees store personal items overnight is underway. Google suggests that its hybrid work has been in place for a year, and changes&nbsp;are bound to happen.</p>

<p dir="ltr"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Google’s Ads violate Antitrust laws, EU&nbsp;says</strong></p>

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<p>It seems that companies across the tech industry are strugglling to get people&nbsp;back to office as many employees are struggling to follow up with the new policy. TCS is one of the companies that is asking its employees to come back to the office and work, but facing the same problem.</p>

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Reports suggest that Google is having a tough time bringing its employees back to the office despite operating in a hybrid model, that is, work-from-office thrice a week.

Reports suggest that Google is having a tough time bringing its employees back to the office despite operating in a hybrid model, that is, work-from-office thrice a week. As per CNBC reports, Google now plans to track employees' attendance and movement within the office, which might be factored in during performance reviews. As expected, the move is not going well with staffers. A few employees even told the publication that the company is treating staffers like "schoolchildren." An internal document obtained by CNBC draws attention to the attendance-tracking measure instated to help managers track "who hasn't been in the office frequently enough". Additionally, Google employees who previously received approval for remote operations will now have that status reevaluated. The CNBC report cites a Google spokesperson who noted the badge data collected is aggregated for company leaders. The spokesperson adds, "Now that we've fully transitioned to the hybrid work week, company leaders can see reports showing how their teams are adopting the hybrid work model." Google clarified that the company does not share or include individual badge data in its internal reports. The spokesperson also said the company was "limiting remote work to exception only." Also read | EU’s new antitrust charges to strike Google’s most successful ads model Why does Google want to switch to the work-from-office model? The report suggests that Google wants to make optimum use of its expansive offices, at least the ones in the US. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Google was known for its various on-campus perks for employees, including massages, yoga classes, and laundry services. However, several employee benefits were scrapped to cut down expenses amid macroeconomic tribulations Many Google workers also want to continue working remotely owing to the cost involved in relocation. Chris Schmidt, a Software engineer at Google and a member of the Alphabet Workers Union-CWA, questions Google's strict hybrid work policy as there are not enough desks for workers. Schmidt told CNBC, "New York City workers do not even have enough desks and conference rooms for workers to use comfortably." The report points out that Google’s process of providing lockers to let employees store personal items overnight is underway. Google suggests that its hybrid work has been in place for a year, and changes are bound to happen. Watch | Google’s Ads violate Antitrust laws, EU says It seems that companies across the tech industry are strugglling to get people back to office as many employees are struggling to follow up with the new policy. TCS is one of the companies that is asking its employees to come back to the office and work, but facing the same problem. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

School-like rules? Google to track employee badges to ensure work from office: Report

Google orders employees to start work from office. Company says that their absence will affect employees' performance review. Does Google not trust its employees? Molly Gambhir tells you more.

Gravitas: Google orders employees to start work-from-office | Employees push back

<p>While working from home became popular during the pandemic, the era of full-time remote work seems to be ending, with one example being Google. Googlers are being asked to return to the office, or else they might have to face the music&nbsp;in their next appraisal. Google has reportedly implemented stricter policies to encourage employees to work from the office more frequently. According to an internal email, the company stated that office attendance could affect an employee's performance review if they failed to meet the minimum requirement of three days of in-office work.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Google is not planning to increase the number of employees working from home full-time, except in exceptional cases.</p>

<h2><strong>Remote work to be an exception&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The company spokesperson highlighted that Google's current hybrid work model, with three days in the office and two days remote, has been successful. He emphasised the importance of in-person connections and collaboration, leading Google to limit remote work to exceptional circumstances.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iowa-minor-tries-to-rent-hitman-to-kill-child-gets-caught-on-parody-site-602549">Iowa: Minor tries to rent hitman to kill child, gets caught on parody site</a></p>

<p>“Our employees have been in our hybrid work model for over a year now—spending three days a week in the office and the other two working from home,” Google spokesperson Ryan Lamont told Fortune in an email, as per media reports. “It’s going well, and we want to see Googlers connecting and collaborating in person, so we’re limiting remote work to exception only.”</p>

<h2><strong>Google's three-day office policy</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Google initially introduced the three-day office policy over a year ago, after two years of remote work due to pandemic restrictions. The transition initially faced logistical challenges as a large number of employees returned to the office.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/deserted-dystopia-chinese-city-evacuated-after-cracks-appear-near-high-rises-602506">Deserted dystopia: Chinese city evacuated after cracks appear near high-rises</a></p>

<p>“Our hybrid approach is designed to incorporate the best of being together in person with the benefits of working from home for part of the week. Now that we’re more than a year into this way of working, we’re formally integrating this approach into all of our workplace policies,” Lamont said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The spokesperson explained that Google's hybrid approach aims to combine the benefits of in-person interaction with the advantages of remote work. As they have been operating in this manner for over a year, the company is formally integrating this approach into their workplace policies.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Sunak-Biden Meet: 'Atlantic declaration' seen as a counter to Russia and China</strong></p>

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<p>Google did not provide further details on how attendance would be tied to employee performance when requested.</p>

<h2><strong>Incentivising office attendance</strong></h2>

<p>Tech companies have encountered difficulties in ensuring compliance with their return-to-office mandates. Consequently, companies like Google are tightening remote work policies to encourage employees to return.</p>

<p>Some companies are employing creative methods to incentivise office attendance. For instance, Salesforce has offered to donate $10 to a local charity for each day an employee works in person between specific dates.</p>

<p>This year, there has been a push to have employees return to the office at least part of the time, with companies like Disney, Meta, and Starbucks announcing plans for in-person work on several days each week.</p>

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While working from home became popular during the pandemic, the era of full-time remote work seems to be ending, with one example being Google. Googlers are being asked to return to the office, or else they might have to face the music in their next appraisal.

While working from home became popular during the pandemic, the era of full-time remote work seems to be ending, with one example being Google. Googlers are being asked to return to the office, or else they might have to face the music in their next appraisal. Google has reportedly implemented stricter policies to encourage employees to work from the office more frequently. According to an internal email, the company stated that office attendance could affect an employee's performance review if they failed to meet the minimum requirement of three days of in-office work. Google is not planning to increase the number of employees working from home full-time, except in exceptional cases. Remote work to be an exception The company spokesperson highlighted that Google's current hybrid work model, with three days in the office and two days remote, has been successful. He emphasised the importance of in-person connections and collaboration, leading Google to limit remote work to exceptional circumstances. Also Read | Iowa: Minor tries to rent hitman to kill child, gets caught on parody site “Our employees have been in our hybrid work model for over a year now—spending three days a week in the office and the other two working from home,” Google spokesperson Ryan Lamont told Fortune in an email, as per media reports. “It’s going well, and we want to see Googlers connecting and collaborating in person, so we’re limiting remote work to exception only.” Google's three-day office policy Google initially introduced the three-day office policy over a year ago, after two years of remote work due to pandemic restrictions. The transition initially faced logistical challenges as a large number of employees returned to the office. Also Read | Deserted dystopia: Chinese city evacuated after cracks appear near high-rises “Our hybrid approach is designed to incorporate the best of being together in person with the benefits of working from home for part of the week. Now that we’re more than a year into this way of working, we’re formally integrating this approach into all of our workplace policies,” Lamont said. The spokesperson explained that Google's hybrid approach aims to combine the benefits of in-person interaction with the advantages of remote work. As they have been operating in this manner for over a year, the company is formally integrating this approach into their workplace policies. Watch | Sunak-Biden Meet: 'Atlantic declaration' seen as a counter to Russia and China × Google did not provide further details on how attendance would be tied to employee performance when requested. Incentivising office attendance Tech companies have encountered difficulties in ensuring compliance with their return-to-office mandates. Consequently, companies like Google are tightening remote work policies to encourage employees to return. Some companies are employing creative methods to incentivise office attendance. For instance, Salesforce has offered to donate $10 to a local charity for each day an employee works in person between specific dates. This year, there has been a push to have employees return to the office at least part of the time, with companies like Disney, Meta, and Starbucks announcing plans for in-person work on several days each week. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Googlers work-from-office attendance to affect employee performance reviews

<p>India’s biggest IT company Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has refuted media reports claiming that the company sent a warning to employees not adhering to its work-from-office policy. In a statement given to several media outlets, a spokesperson for the company said TCS has not linked the career and compensation of employees with roster management.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Over the last several months we have been encouraging associates in India to return to the office and spend three&nbsp;days a week at the workplace,” the spokesperson said, adding, “For now, we have not communicated or deployed linkages to career or compensation."</p>

<h2><strong>What was claimed in previous media reports?</strong></h2>

<p>Earlier, a Times of India report had referred to “memos” that TCS allegedly sent to its employees to claim that the company warned its employees of “disciplinary action” if the roster was not followed. It also quoted the “memo” as reading, “You are warned and directed to start reporting to work from your office location as per the assigned roster with immediate effect.”</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Indian tech giant TCS sued in US for favouring Indian candidates in hiring practices</strong></p>

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<p>The report also noted that TCS was the first IT company in India to introduce the "work from office"&nbsp;policy after the pandemic and strictly enforce it. On the other hand, other companies, such as Infosys, have asked their employees to come to the office, but that has not been made mandatory.</p>

<h2><strong>'100 per cent remote work model not feasible'</strong></h2>

<p>TCS made an announcement last year stating that it would not permit employees to work fully remotely as the COVID-19 pandemic significantly subsided. Instead, the company sent emails to its employees instructing them to work from the office three days a week or 12 days a month.</p>

<p>According to TCS's approach, only a maximum of 25 per cent of its employees will be required to work from the office at any given time. The company had previously mentioned that the scheduling of office attendance would be based on project requirements and would involve a combination of both freshers and experienced professionals.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/indias-tcs-no-layoffs-instead-salary-hikes-are-coming-564047"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;India`s TCS: No Layoffs; instead, salary hikes are coming</strong></a></p>

<p>TCS has stated that this process marks a gradual shift from its Secure Borderless Workspaces (SBWS) to a hybrid model. Under this new model, most employees will have the opportunity to work from the office for a few days each week.</p>

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India’s biggest IT company Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has refuted media reports claiming that the company sent a warning to employees not adhering to its work-from-office policy.

India’s biggest IT company Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has refuted media reports claiming that the company sent a warning to employees not adhering to its work-from-office policy. In a statement given to several media outlets, a spokesperson for the company said TCS has not linked the career and compensation of employees with roster management. “Over the last several months we have been encouraging associates in India to return to the office and spend three days a week at the workplace,” the spokesperson said, adding, “For now, we have not communicated or deployed linkages to career or compensation." What was claimed in previous media reports? Earlier, a Times of India report had referred to “memos” that TCS allegedly sent to its employees to claim that the company warned its employees of “disciplinary action” if the roster was not followed. It also quoted the “memo” as reading, “You are warned and directed to start reporting to work from your office location as per the assigned roster with immediate effect.” Watch: Indian tech giant TCS sued in US for favouring Indian candidates in hiring practices × The report also noted that TCS was the first IT company in India to introduce the "work from office" policy after the pandemic and strictly enforce it. On the other hand, other companies, such as Infosys, have asked their employees to come to the office, but that has not been made mandatory. '100 per cent remote work model not feasible' TCS made an announcement last year stating that it would not permit employees to work fully remotely as the COVID-19 pandemic significantly subsided. Instead, the company sent emails to its employees instructing them to work from the office three days a week or 12 days a month. According to TCS's approach, only a maximum of 25 per cent of its employees will be required to work from the office at any given time. The company had previously mentioned that the scheduling of office attendance would be based on project requirements and would involve a combination of both freshers and experienced professionals. Also read: India`s TCS: No Layoffs; instead, salary hikes are coming TCS has stated that this process marks a gradual shift from its Secure Borderless Workspaces (SBWS) to a hybrid model. Under this new model, most employees will have the opportunity to work from the office for a few days each week. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

TCS refutes reports claiming it warned employees of ‘disciplinary action’ over work from home

<p>Joining the long list of corporate behemoths to ask their employees to report in the office, Starbucks is attempting to end the remote work-from-home option.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Starbucks CEO Hoard Schultz in a memo released ordered the employees to return to the office at least three days&nbsp;a week starting January 31.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Partners, it’s time for us to come back to the office to do this Mission-critical work face-to-face, and in person," said Schultz in the memo.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Accordingly, employees within the commute distance of the Seattle headquarters will have to mandatorily report in the office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Meanwhile, the third day can be decided by the respective teams.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-starbucks-co-founder-relishes-dosa-in-bengaluru-gives-3-star-rating-531184"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Starbucks co-founder relishes Dosa in Bengaluru, gives 3-star rating</strong></a></p>

<p>The move was necessitated after employees were found not reporting to the office despite being asked to come once or twice a week.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"From our badging data, it's clear that a good number of SSC [Starbucks Support Centre] partners are not meeting their minimum promise of one day a week," added&nbsp;Schultz.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Schultz, who is in his third stint at the coffee giant said the new policy is meant to 'rebuild' the connection amongst employees and synchronise team efforts.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/world-business-watch-starbucks-workers-at-more-than-100-stores-go-on-strike-in-us-535199"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;World Business Watch: Starbucks workers at more than 100 stores go on strike in US</strong></a></p>

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<p>While Starbucks is calling employees three days to the office, other employers are not being as easygoing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, earlier this week, Disney CEO Bob Iger&nbsp;told the company's remote workers to report to the office at least four days a week, beginning March 1.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I worry long-term about the negative impact on people who have decided not to spend as much time at the office. I’m going to spend a lot of time here, and I hope that it’s not lonely," said Iger.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/disney-ceo-bob-iger-orders-employees-to-return-to-office-four-days-a-week-550868"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;Disney CEO Bob Iger orders employees to return to office four days a week</strong></a></p>

<p>Apple, Tesla, Snap and Twitter&nbsp;are amongst the big companies that are also reverting to a work-from-office policy as the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic wanes.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><b>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</b></p>

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Joining the long list of corporate behemoths to ask their employees to report in the office, Starbucks is attempting to end the remote work-from-home option. Starbucks CEO Hoard Schultz in a memo released ordered the employees to return to the office at least three days a week starting January 31.

Joining the long list of corporate behemoths to ask their employees to report in the office, Starbucks is attempting to end the remote work-from-home option. Starbucks CEO Hoard Schultz in a memo released ordered the employees to return to the office at least three days a week starting January 31. "Partners, it’s time for us to come back to the office to do this Mission-critical work face-to-face, and in person," said Schultz in the memo. Accordingly, employees within the commute distance of the Seattle headquarters will have to mandatorily report in the office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Meanwhile, the third day can be decided by the respective teams. WATCH | Starbucks co-founder relishes Dosa in Bengaluru, gives 3-star rating The move was necessitated after employees were found not reporting to the office despite being asked to come once or twice a week. "From our badging data, it's clear that a good number of SSC [Starbucks Support Centre] partners are not meeting their minimum promise of one day a week," added Schultz. Schultz, who is in his third stint at the coffee giant said the new policy is meant to 'rebuild' the connection amongst employees and synchronise team efforts. WATCH | World Business Watch: Starbucks workers at more than 100 stores go on strike in US × While Starbucks is calling employees three days to the office, other employers are not being as easygoing. Notably, earlier this week, Disney CEO Bob Iger told the company's remote workers to report to the office at least four days a week, beginning March 1. “I worry long-term about the negative impact on people who have decided not to spend as much time at the office. I’m going to spend a lot of time here, and I hope that it’s not lonely," said Iger. Read more: Disney CEO Bob Iger orders employees to return to office four days a week Apple, Tesla, Snap and Twitter are amongst the big companies that are also reverting to a work-from-office policy as the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic wanes. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Starbucks orders employees to return to office three days a week

General Motors on Tuesday said it will not mandate workers return to offices before 2023 after it had told them on Friday that they would be expected to work three days on-campus each week later this year.

WION Business News| General Motors is conducting damage control, delays return-to-work plans to 2023

Is work from home coming to an end? Companies in India and around the world are asking employees to return to office. Experts say with a looming recession employees may lose the the bargaining power with regard to flexible working. Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: Are we nearing the end of work from home?

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuid94a3m812j6LM" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>Apple on Monday informed that its employees will be expected to return to the office three days per week from next month, September 5, to be precise. Reportedly, Apple CEO Tim Cook sent out the mail, informing about the changes that the upper hierarchy was implementing in the coming days.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Currently, Apple employees have been working from their offices, twice a week. However, with the new rules coming in, all employees in Bay Area will have to report to the office on Tuesday and Thursday compulsorily.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The third day will be picked or decided based on individual teams. Meanwhile, the option of working from home will be applicable for two days only.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Teams participating in the pilot will come to the office three days each week with Tuesday and Thursday as set days across the company, but now the third day you come in will be decided by your teams." said Cook in a memo sent to his employees.</p>

<p>"In terms of timing, many locations around the world are in different phases and you will hear more details shortly. For Santa Clara Valley, we plan to begin our new adjusted pilot with all employees in the office three days beginning the week of September 5th." added the Apple boss.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It is pertinent to note that Apple attempted to implement its pilot programme a year ago. The employees were expected to return to the offices in May. However, the rise in Covid cases delayed the process.</p>

<p>Read More:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/apple-and-amazon-post-impressive-numbers-amid-an-economic-slowdown-501724" target="_blank">Apple and Amazon post impressive numbers amid an economic slowdown</a></p>

<p>Apple's culture heavily depends on employees working together and creating new products. The company has relied on in-person meetings, demos and the physical touch to shape its products; something which was missing in the last couple of years.</p>

<p>By recalling its employees to the office, Apple appears to be reaffirming its faith in the office culture, albeit with a hybrid twist.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Apple’s head of software, Craig Federighi built on Cook's mail and added that Septemeb will mark the true start of Apple's next hybrid chapter.</p>

<p>"Needless to say, this next phase is a pilot, so the one thing of which we can be assured is that we’ll learn a great deal in the months to come. I’m excited for this next chapter and all that lies ahead." he signed off by saying.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Apple on Monday informed that its employees will be expected to return to the office three days per week from next month, September 5, to be precise. Reportedly, Apple CEO Tim Cook sent out the mail, informing about the changes that the upper hierarchy was implementing in the coming days.

Apple on Monday informed that its employees will be expected to return to the office three days per week from next month, September 5, to be precise. Reportedly, Apple CEO Tim Cook sent out the mail, informing about the changes that the upper hierarchy was implementing in the coming days. Currently, Apple employees have been working from their offices, twice a week. However, with the new rules coming in, all employees in Bay Area will have to report to the office on Tuesday and Thursday compulsorily. The third day will be picked or decided based on individual teams. Meanwhile, the option of working from home will be applicable for two days only. "Teams participating in the pilot will come to the office three days each week with Tuesday and Thursday as set days across the company, but now the third day you come in will be decided by your teams." said Cook in a memo sent to his employees. "In terms of timing, many locations around the world are in different phases and you will hear more details shortly. For Santa Clara Valley, we plan to begin our new adjusted pilot with all employees in the office three days beginning the week of September 5th." added the Apple boss. It is pertinent to note that Apple attempted to implement its pilot programme a year ago. The employees were expected to return to the offices in May. However, the rise in Covid cases delayed the process. Read More: Apple and Amazon post impressive numbers amid an economic slowdown Apple's culture heavily depends on employees working together and creating new products. The company has relied on in-person meetings, demos and the physical touch to shape its products; something which was missing in the last couple of years. By recalling its employees to the office, Apple appears to be reaffirming its faith in the office culture, albeit with a hybrid twist. Apple’s head of software, Craig Federighi built on Cook's mail and added that Septemeb will mark the true start of Apple's next hybrid chapter. "Needless to say, this next phase is a pilot, so the one thing of which we can be assured is that we’ll learn a great deal in the months to come. I’m excited for this next chapter and all that lies ahead." he signed off by saying. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Apple sets deadline for employees to be in the office at least three days a week

<p>Companies are fighting back hard in the never-ending battle to entice office workers back to their desks.When faced with the obligation to abandon a new normal that they'd grown accustomed to as remote workers for the last two years, many employees chose to quit rather than return to work.</p>

<p>According to Bloomberg, a survey of 1,000 workers found that 39% of employees would leave their current job if their manager refused to allow them to work remotely.</p>

<p>Millennials and Gen Z workers who felt empowered by their ability to work from home increased this number to 49 percent.</p>

<p>On May 11, Ian Goodfellow, Apple's AI chief, resigned due to a work from office regulation. He was earning Rs. 60 million per year.</p>

<p>Many people dream of working for corporations like Apple. However, Ian Goodfellow, Apple's director of machine learning, decided to resign owing to a work-from-office policy.</p>

<p>On May 12, over the last 60 days, an estimated 750 full-time employees at Byju's owned and run coding start-up WhiteHat Jr have quit after the company requested them to relocate and return to their respective offices within a month.</p>

<p>Employees in the sales, coding, and math teams decided to leave because they did not want to move to their assigned office sites.</p>

<p>Several firms are now realising that permanent remote work is the future of work—pandemic or not—because it has opened eyes to a more convenient method of working that benefits both the company and the employees.</p>

<p>Not just large multinational corporations, but also many large Indian corporations, allow their staff to work from home on a permanent basis. Many firms, from Tata Steel to Twitter, now allow permanent Work From Home (WFH) for their employees.</p>


Companies are fighting back hard in the never-ending battle to entice office workers back to their desks.When faced with the obligation to abandon a new normal that they'd grown accustomed to as remote workers for the last two years, many employees chose to quit rather than return to work.

Companies are fighting back hard in the never-ending battle to entice office workers back to their desks.When faced with the obligation to abandon a new normal that they'd grown accustomed to as remote workers for the last two years, many employees chose to quit rather than return to work. According to Bloomberg, a survey of 1,000 workers found that 39% of employees would leave their current job if their manager refused to allow them to work remotely. Millennials and Gen Z workers who felt empowered by their ability to work from home increased this number to 49 percent. On May 11, Ian Goodfellow, Apple's AI chief, resigned due to a work from office regulation. He was earning Rs. 60 million per year. Many people dream of working for corporations like Apple. However, Ian Goodfellow, Apple's director of machine learning, decided to resign owing to a work-from-office policy. On May 12, over the last 60 days, an estimated 750 full-time employees at Byju's owned and run coding start-up WhiteHat Jr have quit after the company requested them to relocate and return to their respective offices within a month. Employees in the sales, coding, and math teams decided to leave because they did not want to move to their assigned office sites. Several firms are now realising that permanent remote work is the future of work—pandemic or not—because it has opened eyes to a more convenient method of working that benefits both the company and the employees. Not just large multinational corporations, but also many large Indian corporations, allow their staff to work from home on a permanent basis. Many firms, from Tata Steel to Twitter, now allow permanent Work From Home (WFH) for their employees.

Work from home: Employees ready to quit job instead of returning to work

<p>Apple's top artificial intelligence executive left after the company mandated that employees work from offices at least three days a week.</p>

<p>Apple's director of machine learning, Ian Goodfellow, informed employees that he was leaving due to Tim Cook's insistence on implementing hybrid working for all American, European, and UK-based employees.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/apple-google-and-microsoft-working-on-passwordless-future-477217">Apple, Google and Microsoft working on 'passwordless future'</a></strong></p>

<p>"I believe strongly that more flexibility would have been the best policy for my team," Goodfellow, 35, who is based in the United States, wrote in a goodbye email to colleagues, according to The Verge, a technology magazine.</p>

<p>Apple would be losing one of the world's most well-known artificial intelligence researchers, Goodfellow.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;EU slams Apple for restricting pay system access</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/eu-slams-apple-for-restricting-pay-system-access-475908/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>On April 11, the corporation began requiring employees to work one day each week, which was increased to two days on May 2. All employees had to be at their desks three days a week by May 23.</p>

<p>According to Fortune, a survey of Apple employees conducted from April 13 to 19 indicated that 67 percent were unhappy with the company's return-to-work policy.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/apple-unfairly-shielded-its-pay-wallets-eus-antitrust-case-475751">'Apple unfairly shielded its pay wallets': EU's antitrust case</a></strong></p>

<p>Goodfellow's resignation, according to one Apple employee, comes ahead of a possible announcement that the company will boost the in-person work requirement to five days per week.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Apple's top artificial intelligence executive left after the company mandated that employees work from offices at least three days a week. Apple's director of machine learning, Ian Goodfellow, informed employees that he was leaving due to Tim Cook's insistence on implementing hybrid working for all American, European, and UK-based employees.

Apple's top artificial intelligence executive left after the company mandated that employees work from offices at least three days a week. Apple's director of machine learning, Ian Goodfellow, informed employees that he was leaving due to Tim Cook's insistence on implementing hybrid working for all American, European, and UK-based employees. Also read | Apple, Google and Microsoft working on 'passwordless future' "I believe strongly that more flexibility would have been the best policy for my team," Goodfellow, 35, who is based in the United States, wrote in a goodbye email to colleagues, according to The Verge, a technology magazine. Apple would be losing one of the world's most well-known artificial intelligence researchers, Goodfellow. Watch | EU slams Apple for restricting pay system access On April 11, the corporation began requiring employees to work one day each week, which was increased to two days on May 2. All employees had to be at their desks three days a week by May 23. According to Fortune, a survey of Apple employees conducted from April 13 to 19 indicated that 67 percent were unhappy with the company's return-to-work policy. Also read | 'Apple unfairly shielded its pay wallets': EU's antitrust case Goodfellow's resignation, according to one Apple employee, comes ahead of a possible announcement that the company will boost the in-person work requirement to five days per week. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Apple’s AI chief, Ian Goodfellow, quits over 'work from office' order

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="3">Not surprisingly, traditional offices appear to have been radically altered by the pandemic, perhaps forever.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="5">According to Grant Christofely, North American associate director of workplace strategy at M Moser Associates, a workplace design company, some organizations still design their offices the same way they did 50 to 70 years ago: static, inflexible spaces where employees perform individual, task-oriented work more than eight hours a day.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="6">"But that’s not how works gets done, how you make money today," he said. "You make money from ideas being exchanged. And technology has had a huge impact on the way people work, the way ideas are exchanged. The way ideas were exchanged was changing before the pandemic — people are realizing that the time to change is now."</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="7">For example, M Moser’s 10,000-square-foot Manhattan headquarters in the Woolworth Building was designed in 2018 and revamped in 2020 to create a healthier workplace. Employees do not have assigned seats but rather choose a place to work every morning. Instead of sitting at desks, they sit at mobile tables; their portable electronic equipment is powered by portable battery packs.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="8">The firm’s headquarters have been open, with limited capacity, since June 2020; its flexible workspace enabled it to adapt quickly when it reopened.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="9">Similarly, M Moser’s new "living lab" for its offices in Shenzhen, China, offers diverse work settings and choices, as well as a virtual meeting device with real-time connection but no advance booking requirement.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="10">Christofely said he believes companies "must move the dial on how much space is dedicated to individual versus collaborative work. The social aspect of work is one of the most important parts of the physical workplace." His firm’s "more progressive" clients are dramatically reducing individual workspaces from 70% of the total to 30%, with 70% now collaborative; at least one client is dedicating only 10% of its workspaces to individuals.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="11">And M Moser, of course, is not the only firm envisioning a flexible office environment.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="12">John Harrison, design director of the Houston office of Gensler, an architectural firm, believes "the biggest shift in the post-pandemic workplace will be the radical change in flexibility. People’s behavioral habits are going to be different. The physical office must accommodate that in a forward-thinking, creative way," he said. What will emerge will be "a blended workforce where some people will work from home, some in the office on certain days," he added.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="13">Eric Gannon, the workplace studio leader for Gensler’s Chicago office, warned: "If we don’t give them a reason to commute in, they’ll return to their basement to do their work."</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="14">To make offices attractive to those who choose to work there either occasionally or full time — rather than at home — companies are creating spaces for employees to socialize and meet, either in person or virtually.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="15">For the headquarters in London’s Chiswick Business Park of pladis, a global confectionary company whose brands include McVities and Godiva, Gensler created what it calls a "heart space, bakery meets hotel." This contains an open kitchen and ovens as well as a digital screen that links to pladis’ bakeries in Carlisle, England. The company says this screen celebrates bakers’ key role and shows the process behind its products. Its headquarters opened in June.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="16">Lois Wellwood, global interiors practice leader of the architecture firm Skidmore, Owings &amp; Merrill, known as SOM, said that before the pandemic, "the workplace tended to migrate to one-size-fits-all. There is now the opportunity to start thinking about a return to the office that’s authentic to the organization. People are better supported when things are movable and changeable, with more options for places to work throughout the day. In doing so, the workplace becomes more adaptable, elastic and responsive to what individuals and teams are doing."</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="17">For a 95,000-square-foot tech company office in the Grace Building in midtown Manhattan, SOM created what it describes as a "city within a building." This includes a stairwell that ascends into the office’s atrium and acts as its central nervous system.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="18">A media wall spans all three of the company’s floors and can be used for companywide Zoom sessions and to display other information to employees around the world. The office also contains a combined reception, living room, cafe and pantry at its entrance; work areas are open plan, allowing employees to decide when and how they want to work. There is also a wellness room for employees with newborns, as well as a shower for those who bike or skateboard to work.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="19">SOM’S Central Place project in Sydney, scheduled to be completed in 2028, will encompass 1,620,000 square feet of office and retail space and create a workplace environment closely tied to nature, with multiple terraces and a facade designed to minimize interior solar heat gain.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="20">For its clients, the firm further recommends what it calls the "anti-anxiety office entry." This would entail redesigning an office building’s lobby so it contains "breathable and easily navigable spaces (so) we can choreograph the arrival experience to reduce crowding," according to a document titled "10 Ideas for Post-Pandemic Design." "Employees and visitors, messengers and deliveries and people arriving by foot or by bike, each will have a clear and dedicated arrival path." SOM also recommends that this entry contains "more generously planned bicycle facilities," as well as showers and locker storage.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="21">Similarly, a 13,000-square-foot New York office — currently being designed by Gensler for the Rizzo Group, a building code consulting firm, scheduled to open in February 2022 — will place a major focus on wellness and well-being. Its outdoor space, which has tables and seats for meetings, will be as large as its indoor space, maximizing employees’ access to the elements year-round.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="22">Composting collected from bins in the pantry will fuel gardens on the terrace, where vegetables and herbs will be grown for employee consumption; bike storage also will be available on the terrace for the company’s commuter bikers. There will be an "everyone sponsors a plant" initiative in the office’s central cafe; each employee will be responsible for an individual plant’s upkeep, including watering. And the cafe’s location will be based on sun studies, offering the best, most consistent and longest-lasting light in the office.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="23">For the 330 North Green Street in Chicago, for which ground will be broken soon, SOM has designed a southern facade that is set back to create what it calls "the porch," a gathering area with retractable doors, lounge, workspaces, fireplaces and an outdoor fitness area and paddle courts, to be used when temperatures allow.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="24">So why are companies going to such lengths? Robin Klehr Avia, New York-based regional managing principal for Gensler, said she believes there is a "war for talent" going on now among employers. She said companies of all sorts and sizes — ranging from ad agencies and small financial firms to consulting and media companies and nonprofit organizations — are asking their employees when, where and how they want to work, hoping to make themselves attractive to them as well as to prospective employees. "Employees can script their own workplace experience — it’s not one size fits all," she said.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="25">Gensler’s clients outside the United States also are looking for flexibility, fresh air and daylight, Avia added, noting that "the best designs are flexible and fluid."</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="26">She said no one knows if the changes being instituted will be short-term and temporary or permanent.</p>

<p data-changed="false" data-paragraphid="27">"The biggest challenge," she suggested, "is that the office environment is continually evolving. We cannot return to business as usual. It’s a transition time for companies and employees — they have to be patient with the evolution."</p>


Not surprisingly, traditional offices appear to have been radically altered by the pandemic, perhaps forever. According to Grant Christofely, North American associate director of workplace strategy at M Moser Associates, a workplace design company, some organizations still design their offices the same way they did 50 to 70 years ago: static, inflexible spaces where employees perform individual, task-oriented work more than eight hours a day.

Not surprisingly, traditional offices appear to have been radically altered by the pandemic, perhaps forever. According to Grant Christofely, North American associate director of workplace strategy at M Moser Associates, a workplace design company, some organizations still design their offices the same way they did 50 to 70 years ago: static, inflexible spaces where employees perform individual, task-oriented work more than eight hours a day. "But that’s not how works gets done, how you make money today," he said. "You make money from ideas being exchanged. And technology has had a huge impact on the way people work, the way ideas are exchanged. The way ideas were exchanged was changing before the pandemic — people are realizing that the time to change is now." For example, M Moser’s 10,000-square-foot Manhattan headquarters in the Woolworth Building was designed in 2018 and revamped in 2020 to create a healthier workplace. Employees do not have assigned seats but rather choose a place to work every morning. Instead of sitting at desks, they sit at mobile tables; their portable electronic equipment is powered by portable battery packs. The firm’s headquarters have been open, with limited capacity, since June 2020; its flexible workspace enabled it to adapt quickly when it reopened. Similarly, M Moser’s new "living lab" for its offices in Shenzhen, China, offers diverse work settings and choices, as well as a virtual meeting device with real-time connection but no advance booking requirement. Christofely said he believes companies "must move the dial on how much space is dedicated to individual versus collaborative work. The social aspect of work is one of the most important parts of the physical workplace." His firm’s "more progressive" clients are dramatically reducing individual workspaces from 70% of the total to 30%, with 70% now collaborative; at least one client is dedicating only 10% of its workspaces to individuals. And M Moser, of course, is not the only firm envisioning a flexible office environment. John Harrison, design director of the Houston office of Gensler, an architectural firm, believes "the biggest shift in the post-pandemic workplace will be the radical change in flexibility. People’s behavioral habits are going to be different. The physical office must accommodate that in a forward-thinking, creative way," he said. What will emerge will be "a blended workforce where some people will work from home, some in the office on certain days," he added. Eric Gannon, the workplace studio leader for Gensler’s Chicago office, warned: "If we don’t give them a reason to commute in, they’ll return to their basement to do their work." To make offices attractive to those who choose to work there either occasionally or full time — rather than at home — companies are creating spaces for employees to socialize and meet, either in person or virtually. For the headquarters in London’s Chiswick Business Park of pladis, a global confectionary company whose brands include McVities and Godiva, Gensler created what it calls a "heart space, bakery meets hotel." This contains an open kitchen and ovens as well as a digital screen that links to pladis’ bakeries in Carlisle, England. The company says this screen celebrates bakers’ key role and shows the process behind its products. Its headquarters opened in June. Lois Wellwood, global interiors practice leader of the architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, known as SOM, said that before the pandemic, "the workplace tended to migrate to one-size-fits-all. There is now the opportunity to start thinking about a return to the office that’s authentic to the organization. People are better supported when things are movable and changeable, with more options for places to work throughout the day. In doing so, the workplace becomes more adaptable, elastic and responsive to what individuals and teams are doing." For a 95,000-square-foot tech company office in the Grace Building in midtown Manhattan, SOM created what it describes as a "city within a building." This includes a stairwell that ascends into the office’s atrium and acts as its central nervous system. A media wall spans all three of the company’s floors and can be used for companywide Zoom sessions and to display other information to employees around the world. The office also contains a combined reception, living room, cafe and pantry at its entrance; work areas are open plan, allowing employees to decide when and how they want to work. There is also a wellness room for employees with newborns, as well as a shower for those who bike or skateboard to work. SOM’S Central Place project in Sydney, scheduled to be completed in 2028, will encompass 1,620,000 square feet of office and retail space and create a workplace environment closely tied to nature, with multiple terraces and a facade designed to minimize interior solar heat gain. For its clients, the firm further recommends what it calls the "anti-anxiety office entry." This would entail redesigning an office building’s lobby so it contains "breathable and easily navigable spaces (so) we can choreograph the arrival experience to reduce crowding," according to a document titled "10 Ideas for Post-Pandemic Design." "Employees and visitors, messengers and deliveries and people arriving by foot or by bike, each will have a clear and dedicated arrival path." SOM also recommends that this entry contains "more generously planned bicycle facilities," as well as showers and locker storage. Similarly, a 13,000-square-foot New York office — currently being designed by Gensler for the Rizzo Group, a building code consulting firm, scheduled to open in February 2022 — will place a major focus on wellness and well-being. Its outdoor space, which has tables and seats for meetings, will be as large as its indoor space, maximizing employees’ access to the elements year-round. Composting collected from bins in the pantry will fuel gardens on the terrace, where vegetables and herbs will be grown for employee consumption; bike storage also will be available on the terrace for the company’s commuter bikers. There will be an "everyone sponsors a plant" initiative in the office’s central cafe; each employee will be responsible for an individual plant’s upkeep, including watering. And the cafe’s location will be based on sun studies, offering the best, most consistent and longest-lasting light in the office. For the 330 North Green Street in Chicago, for which ground will be broken soon, SOM has designed a southern facade that is set back to create what it calls "the porch," a gathering area with retractable doors, lounge, workspaces, fireplaces and an outdoor fitness area and paddle courts, to be used when temperatures allow. So why are companies going to such lengths? Robin Klehr Avia, New York-based regional managing principal for Gensler, said she believes there is a "war for talent" going on now among employers. She said companies of all sorts and sizes — ranging from ad agencies and small financial firms to consulting and media companies and nonprofit organizations — are asking their employees when, where and how they want to work, hoping to make themselves attractive to them as well as to prospective employees. "Employees can script their own workplace experience — it’s not one size fits all," she said. Gensler’s clients outside the United States also are looking for flexibility, fresh air and daylight, Avia added, noting that "the best designs are flexible and fluid." She said no one knows if the changes being instituted will be short-term and temporary or permanent. "The biggest challenge," she suggested, "is that the office environment is continually evolving. We cannot return to business as usual. It’s a transition time for companies and employees — they have to be patient with the evolution."

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