CEOs’ views on in-person collaboration and business culture

Apple chief executive, Tim Cook, sent a memo to employees on Monday. Particularly, in the memo seen by the Financial Times, Apple tells employees to return to work for at least three days a week from September. The move would preserve the “in-person collaboration that is so essential to our culture”, according to Cook.

   Additionally, it is important to mention that Apple has announced a return-to-office order in past as well. In June 2021, Apple planned a three-day-a-week return in September of that year, because of rising Covid-19 cases. However, working remotely was preferred by many employees, so it was difficult then to return at their office.

   Post-coronavirus pandemic workplace is quite challenging. Companies have faced pressure to stop the remote working conditions. There is no longer a “standard” way of working since the start of the pandemic event. In any case though, in-person collaboration is vital for business culture, not only for Apple, but for most of companies worldwide. The examples below have been published on Hubble HQ, gathering such information for a variety of business leaders.

   David Solomon, the CEO of Goldman Sachs, strongly believes that in-person interaction is integral to the “eco-system of the firm”. Netflix CEO Reed Hastings in an interview with the Wall Street Journal said, “not being able to get together in person, particularly internationally, is a pure negative”.

   Adobe’s Chief People Officer, Gloria Chen said in June 2021, that “we’ll gather for the moments that matter. We will have an intentional mix of physical and virtual presences, with in-person gatherings driven by purpose and designed for collaboration”. “At a company of our size, there is no one-size-fits-all approach for how every team works best,” claimed Amazon CEO, Andy Jassy.

   The Bank of England has operated on a hybrid workplace strategy since July of 2021, establishing a set of trial guidelines to encourage more flexible working. Chief Operating Officer, Joanna Place, mentioned how bosses would encourage their staff to hold collaborative, in-person “team days” in the office.

   James Bardwick, the Citigroup Inc’s UK Chief Executive, said that “we are now free to gather in our offices, without restriction, where we are better able to generate the energy and collaborative spirit on which Citi thrives”.