.svg)
The video conferencing giant, Zoom, which was the champion of remote work during the Covid-19 pandemic, is now embarking on a new path by recalling its employees to the offices. This decision, unveiled by Business Insider on August 5, took many observers by surprise, as Zoom had been the emblem of remote work since the start of the health crisis. However, the company shows its desire to find a balance between remote work and face-to-face by adopting a hybrid approach.
A Growing Trend: Back to Face-to-Face
The Zoom announcement is symptomatic of a growing trend in the business world, where many businesses, including tech giants such as Google, Meta, Twitter, and Apple, are recalling their employees to the office, arguing that in-person work is more efficient and productive. Zoom thus joins the list of these iconic companies that are reevaluating their position on remote work.
Towards a hybrid work model
Zoom plans to ask employees who live within 50 miles of a company office to return to the office at least two days a week. This decision is motivated by the search for better performance and greater efficiency while maintaining connectivity through their own video conferencing technologies.
The Challenges of Returning to the Office
The company, which had grown at breakneck speed during previous lockdowns, is now facing the challenges of returning employees to the office across the world. This resulted in a massive social plan last February, which affected around 1,300 employees, or 15% of Zoom's workforce. The company's managing director, Eric Yuan, justified these measures by citing “global economic uncertainty and its effects on our customers.”
For some time, Zoom had considered working from home permanently, but this new return-to-office policy, implemented between August and September, marks a significant turnaround.
Between Flexibility and Social Connection
This transition to a hybrid work model allows Zoom to remain flexible while maintaining the social connection that is essential for corporate collaboration. The company says it will continue to operate its own video conferencing platform to keep its employees and dispersed teams connected and working effectively.
The Complexities of the Hybrid Work Model
However, this decision is not without its challenges. Prior to this change, a September 2022 Wall Street Journal estimate revealed that 75% of Zoom employees worked remotely, while only 1% were in the office regularly. The end of the pandemic marked a massive return of employees to the office, while Zoom's competitors, such as Google (Meet) and Microsoft (Teams), continued to strengthen their video conferencing tools.
Zoom's stock has also changed significantly, from $560 in 2020 to around $70 today. Nonetheless, Zoom remains optimistic about its ability to navigate this new hybrid work environment and continue to innovate to meet the needs of its customers globally.
The Importance of On-site Presence Management
The Zoom example highlights the complex challenges posed by the hybrid work model. One of the main challenges is to effectively organize the presence of employees on site. This requires specific planning and coordination tools to determine who will be in the office when.
Promote Corporate Collaboration with m-work
In addition to schedule management, corporate culture plays a critical role. Creating an inclusive environment where all employees, whether working remotely or on site, feel connected and valued is crucial. Transparent communication and management commitment are essential.
The use of collaboration tools adapted to these new ways of working is essential to maintain productivity and communication within dispersed teams. These tools make it easy to share information, collaborate on projects, and maintain a sense of belonging to the team.
m-work by facilitating the organization of the presence on site reinforces social ties. Employees and managers declare their days of presence on site as well as those working from home. These statements are then visible to everyone and thus promote exchanges and meetings on site.
Zoom's choice to call its employees back to the office is just one illustration among many others of the complexity of finding the right balance between remote work and in-person in a post-pandemic world.
