The end of Q1 has big tech companies posting results of their performance, which has naturally led to other conclusions being made about the state of the American economy today. Companies such as Microsoft, Facebook, Apple, and Google, all had representatives who discussed the state of work-life in America today, and what we can expect in the future.
Google CFO Ruth Porat had this to say about it: “We’ve been very clear we do value bringing people together in the office, and we’re looking at a hybrid work-from-home, work-from-office model. We are looking at less density per employee. So even with a hybrid work environment, we will continue to need [office] space, and so we’re continuing to build out our campuses and office facilities.”
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella labeled the time we’re in as a “new era” of the workplace. With multiple businesses being forced to work from home during the 2020 lockdown, many of them realized that it’s actually a pretty convenient set-up.
Tech commentator Ben Thompson added his own two cents on the matter: “Employers didn’t simply offer free lunches, but also free dinners, and everything in between, from transportation to snacks to laundry services. Employees, meanwhile, were expected to bring their whole selves to work, by which founders meant a willingness to work long hours and accept lower salaries in exchange for stock options and the chance to ‘do your life’s work.'”
