Raul Vargas, CEO, Farmers group, made a decision to reverse the company’s previous remote work policy. This caused a revolt among employees who were previously allowed to work from home. According to The Wall Street Journal, last year the company had informed its staff that remote work would be the norm.
Many employees made significant lifestyle changes as a result, such as selling cars or relocating to different cities. However, the recent announcement by the new CEO requiring employees to work from the office three days a week triggered dissatisfaction among the staff. Over 2,000 critical comments were posted on the company’s internal social media platform in response to the decision.
In response to the CEO’s decision, certain employees at Farmers Group expressed their intention to leave the company, while others discussed the possibility of forming a union. One employee shared with WSJ, “When I joined, remote work was the expected company culture going forward. This sudden change feels like a manipulative display of power and is truly disheartening.”
According to a spokesperson from Farmers Group, starting in September, employees will be required to go to the office three days a week under a new work model that combines in-person and remote work. The spokesperson explained that employees living within 50 miles of a Farmers office will work from the office for at least three days and have the option to work remotely for the remaining two days. The spokesperson also mentioned that around 60 per cent of Farmers employees will follow this hybrid work arrangement, while other roles will either be fully remote or fully in-office, depending on the job requirements.
