TravelPerk, the Spanish enterprise journey unicorn, is dealing with a backlash from workers after the corporate introduced they have to return to the Barcelona workplace at the very least three days every week.
Avi Meir, the corporate’s CEO, introduced the brand new coverage on the finish of February throughout an all-hands assembly. He mentioned “human interplay ought to occur in actual life, not within the metaverse” and that “Covid-19 was a time of exception” in a LinkedIn submit after the announcement.
In line with one TravelPerk worker, the transfer has “gone down very badly with lots of people”, whereas one other says the environment on the firm is “very tense”.
“There’s a mini-revolt occurring at TravelPerk proper now,” says one other present worker.
TravelPerk is only one of many tech firms which have walked again on the distant working allowances rolled out in the course of the pandemic. Lots of the largest US tech corporations, from Apple to Amazon, have known as staff again to the workplace at the very least just a few days every week, regardless of outcries and resistance from many.
Getir, Europe’s largest speedy grocery firm, requested all office-based workers return full-time again in January. And Adyen, the Dutch funds large, requires workers to be on-site 3 times every week.
A TravelPerk spokesperson tells Sifted: “TravelPerk is an in-real-life (IRL) firm and its enterprise is about connecting individuals in actual life.”
Workers have been inspired to talk to the management staff if their private circumstances make it troublesome to return, the spokesperson provides.
TravelPerk has 1,200 workers, and had been working on a “no coverage” method to distant work within the wake of the pandemic. The corporate declined to share with Sifted what number of of its employees had been working remotely over the previous few years.
Engineers pen a letter
A gaggle of engineers on the firm, specifically, are mentioned to be “outraged” by the obligatory return to the workplace, in line with two present workers, and have collectively despatched Meir a letter with round 100 signatures denouncing the coverage.
The three-page missive expresses their disappointment that the brand new coverage was introduced earlier than management acquired suggestions from the staff, says one worker who has seen it. It additionally features a bullet-point record detailing how the brand new coverage will have an effect on workers, together with time spent commuting, adjustment of schedules and fewer time spent with household.
The signatories demanded the “IRL coverage” be reviewed and exceptions be made.
TravelPerk not too long ago moved its HQ to a brand new Barcelona workplace and employees dwelling exterior of town, however nonetheless in Spain, have initially been given six months to return to the workplace three days every week, says one worker.
TravelPerk’s spokesperson says every particular person is being assessed on a “case-by-case foundation to make sure a clean transition to the brand new work coverage” and particular lodging are being made the place needed.
Thus far, the management staff has acquired 100 requests (roughly 8% of 1,200 workers) for exceptions; of these requests, 75% have been accredited, the spokesperson says. The corporate didn’t say what would occur if an worker refuses to return.
In Spain, the employer can reverse distant working schemes and name individuals again on-site below authorities rules. Sifted has requested TravelPerk for clarification on how precisely it negotiated the return.
TravelPerk is one among Spain’s startup success tales and has not introduced any layoffs in the course of the downturn. It raised a further $115m in its Collection D in January 2022, giving it an over $1bn valuation, and makes $100m in annual income.
“We realise that the world has modified, and determined to maintain 40% flexibility to make sure the perfect of each world, permitting us to plan and construct world-class staff and to maintain attracting the perfect expertise within the trade, individuals who now count on flexibility but in addition recognize the significance of in-real-life common interactions,” CEO Meir wrote in a Medium submit printed on the finish of March.
Anna Freeman is a contract reporter based mostly in Barcelona. She tweets from @AnnaLouiseFreem
