Since the pandemic has paralyzed all kinds of movements, in the end many companies have had to get used to working from home (WFH). Even though the pandemic will be over, the Facebook boss still allows employees to continue WFH. According to Facebook, working remotely is a method of working the future.
In May, Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg estimated that 50% of the company’s employees could work remotely in the next five to 10 years.
Facebook says eligible employees can apply for remote work with the approval of the company manager. Of course this permanent WFH plan has a reason. Facebook’s Vice President of People Growth, Brynn Harrington, said some of the workforce had thrived during WFH.
“For example, parents who are closer to their children and are happy to cut travel time and optimize the working day, they are happy to work from home,” he said, quoted by the BBC, Monday (19/4/2021).
Some Employees are Uncomfortable with WFH Method
However, Harrington admits it is not easy for everyone. He said not all of his employees have enough space at home to work and they are eager to return to work in the office.
“We have people living in small apartments with roommates, those people are eager to go back to the office, and we are working very hard to do it, as soon as our office is safe open,” he said.
Facebook plans to reopen its Silicon Valley offices in early May, after more than a year of working from home during the pandemic. The capacity of the offices to be opened will not reach 50% until September.
The social media giant insists switching to remote work is not about saving costs. Facebook says the costs of its employees during WFH vary, depending on where they choose to live and work.
“We pay based on local labor costs in the market. So there will be variability in terms of salaries for remote workers, based on where they work,” he explained.
Facebook’s approach runs counter to many other companies, which have expressed a desire for workers to return to the office. For example, Goldman Sachs boss refuses to work remotely, he calls WFH a deviant working system.
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