- Zillow CEO Rich Barton discussed the future of work during the company’s Q4 earnings call.
- A hybrid model could create a “two-class system” that negatively impacts remote workers, he said.
- Others have echoed his concerns. GitLab’s CEO called a hybrid model “the worst of both worlds.”
Throughout the pandemic, the buzzy phrase in corporate America has been “hybrid model” — as in, a new way of working that involves both remote work and coming into a physical office a few days per week or month.
And while that model seems like an elegant solution for life post-coronavirus, there may be a hidden downside for employees, Zillow CEO Rich Barton warned.
During the online real estate company’s fourth-quarter earnings call on Wednesday, Barton discussed how Zillow managed the shift to remote work throughout 2020 and what he’s expecting for the future. While Zillow has been successful operating as a “cloud-headquartered company,”the company does plan to have some employees return to its offices, and that can present challenges, Barton said.
“We must ensure a level playing field for all team members, regardless of their physical location,” Barton said. “There cannot be a two-class system — those in the room being first-class and those on the phone being second-class.”
Continue reading… “Zillow is adopting a hybrid model of work, but its CEO says it’s trying to prevent one major downside: a ‘two-class system’ where those who come into the office are viewed as better employees”
