賽富時(shí)(Salesforce)旗下的Slack將關(guān)閉未來(lái)論壇(Future Forum)。未來(lái)論壇每個(gè)季度對(duì)全球10,000名辦公室工作者進(jìn)行靈活遠(yuǎn)程辦公調(diào)查,并數(shù)次發(fā)現(xiàn)遠(yuǎn)程辦公深受大多數(shù)工作者的歡迎。未來(lái)論壇發(fā)現(xiàn),靈活辦公對(duì)工作效率有積極影響,有助于培養(yǎng)員工和雇主之間的信任,并降低員工流失率。未來(lái)論壇即將被關(guān)閉的同時(shí),賽富時(shí)的首席執(zhí)行官馬克·貝尼奧夫正在要求員工重回現(xiàn)場(chǎng)辦公。
《財(cái)富》雜志看到的信息截屏顯示,3月24日,未來(lái)論壇的執(zhí)行主管布萊恩·埃利奧特稱,在Slack內(nèi)部的#friends-of-future-forum頻道告訴員工“這個(gè)消息并不容易”,他披露公司計(jì)劃在今年3月底關(guān)閉該調(diào)研部門。他并未解釋關(guān)閉的原因,《財(cái)富》雜志未能立即聯(lián)系到Slack發(fā)言人征求意見(jiàn)。
埃利奧特寫道:“我認(rèn)為這是對(duì)Slack最好的決定?!彼硎荆緦⒗^續(xù)投資與未來(lái)工作有關(guān)的研究,但他并未詳細(xì)說(shuō)明該部門的未來(lái)。
2020年9月,未來(lái)論壇啟動(dòng)時(shí),埃利奧特發(fā)表了一篇博文,簡(jiǎn)要介紹了未來(lái)論壇的使命,他說(shuō):“突然向遠(yuǎn)程辦公轉(zhuǎn)變,讓我們有機(jī)會(huì)對(duì)數(shù)十年來(lái)朝九晚五、以辦公室為中心的傳統(tǒng)單一辦公文化提出質(zhì)疑?!?/p>
在決定關(guān)閉未來(lái)論壇之前,有報(bào)道稱,賽富時(shí)正在強(qiáng)制要求管理者酌情決定的部分員工重回現(xiàn)場(chǎng)辦公,盡管未來(lái)論壇的研究發(fā)現(xiàn)了靈活辦公的好處。
此外,賽富時(shí)還采取了一系列削減成本的措施:公司在今年1月裁員10%,員工“感恩”獎(jiǎng)金被削減了40%,董事會(huì)的并購(gòu)委員會(huì)被解散,貝尼奧夫?qū)T工表示計(jì)劃削減30億美元至50億美元成本。
新上任的Slack首席執(zhí)行官利代尼·瓊斯在公司內(nèi)部頻道中寫道:“未來(lái)論壇為我們確定市場(chǎng)定位和構(gòu)思一種效率更高的全新工作方式,發(fā)揮了關(guān)鍵作用。在Slack,我們依舊致力于靈活的、包容的辦公模式,并繼續(xù)開(kāi)展影響深遠(yuǎn)的工作。”
貝尼奧夫?qū)h(yuǎn)程辦公的態(tài)度逆轉(zhuǎn)
2021年,賽富時(shí)以280億美元收購(gòu)Slack,這也意味著公司的理想發(fā)生了變化。Slack的聯(lián)合創(chuàng)始人、擔(dān)任首席執(zhí)行官十多年的斯圖爾特·巴特菲爾德一直倡議所有員工靈活辦公,他認(rèn)為靈活辦公是未來(lái)公司成功不可分割的一部分。(2022年12月,巴特菲爾德突然宣布將從Slack離職。)
2022年10月,巴特菲爾德對(duì)《財(cái)富》雜志的總編輯艾莉森·肖恩特爾表示:“人們確實(shí)想要框架,喜歡邊界,但他們不喜歡被其他人指手畫腳,因此我認(rèn)為關(guān)鍵是,在給人們?cè)O(shè)立一定的框架時(shí),不能讓人們感覺(jué)他們的自主權(quán)被剝奪,或者他們的想法不重要?!?/p>
但現(xiàn)在至少已經(jīng)不能再對(duì)貝尼奧夫說(shuō)這樣的話。今年2月,貝尼奧夫在分析賽富時(shí)面臨的障礙的文件中寫道,在新冠疫情期間遠(yuǎn)程辦公過(guò)程中,“健康文化的重要性超過(guò)了高績(jī)效文化”。2022年12月,他在Slack上的#all-salesforce頻道里稱,新冠疫情期間招聘的員工“效率更低”。然后他提出了幾個(gè)問(wèn)題,希望得到反饋:“這是否體現(xiàn)了我們的辦公室政策?我的管理者是否有直接與他們的團(tuán)隊(duì)討論效率問(wèn)題?”
今年3月的早些時(shí)候,貝尼奧夫在《On With Kara Swisher》播客中表示,他“憑經(jīng)驗(yàn)可以確信”,新招聘的員工“如果在現(xiàn)場(chǎng)辦公,相互面對(duì)面,接受入職培訓(xùn)和專業(yè)培訓(xùn)”,就將有更高的績(jī)效。
他說(shuō):“如果他們?cè)诩肄k公,沒(méi)有經(jīng)歷這些流程,我并不認(rèn)為他們能夠取得同樣的成功?!?/p>
這與貝尼奧夫在2022年夏天的觀念大相徑庭。當(dāng)時(shí)他還批評(píng)重回現(xiàn)場(chǎng)辦公的強(qiáng)制命令。他當(dāng)時(shí)表示,重回現(xiàn)場(chǎng)辦公“永遠(yuǎn)不可能成功”。
據(jù)《財(cái)富》雜志獲得的音頻會(huì)議記錄顯示,貝尼奧夫在今年1月的公司全體大會(huì)上承認(rèn),將Slack的文化融入賽富時(shí)的文化“不太成功”?!耙恢币詠?lái)的問(wèn)題是,Slack的文化始終沒(méi)有融入到賽富時(shí)的文化,除非在賽富時(shí)有一些Slack的文化元素,否則所謂的整合在任何意義上都沒(méi)有實(shí)現(xiàn)。只是Slack的文化被消滅了而已?!保ㄘ?cái)富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:劉進(jìn)龍
審校:汪皓
賽富時(shí)(Salesforce)旗下的Slack將關(guān)閉未來(lái)論壇(Future Forum)。未來(lái)論壇每個(gè)季度對(duì)全球10,000名辦公室工作者進(jìn)行靈活遠(yuǎn)程辦公調(diào)查,并數(shù)次發(fā)現(xiàn)遠(yuǎn)程辦公深受大多數(shù)工作者的歡迎。未來(lái)論壇發(fā)現(xiàn),靈活辦公對(duì)工作效率有積極影響,有助于培養(yǎng)員工和雇主之間的信任,并降低員工流失率。未來(lái)論壇即將被關(guān)閉的同時(shí),賽富時(shí)的首席執(zhí)行官馬克·貝尼奧夫正在要求員工重回現(xiàn)場(chǎng)辦公。
《財(cái)富》雜志看到的信息截屏顯示,3月24日,未來(lái)論壇的執(zhí)行主管布萊恩·埃利奧特稱,在Slack內(nèi)部的#friends-of-future-forum頻道告訴員工“這個(gè)消息并不容易”,他披露公司計(jì)劃在今年3月底關(guān)閉該調(diào)研部門。他并未解釋關(guān)閉的原因,《財(cái)富》雜志未能立即聯(lián)系到Slack發(fā)言人征求意見(jiàn)。
埃利奧特寫道:“我認(rèn)為這是對(duì)Slack最好的決定?!彼硎荆緦⒗^續(xù)投資與未來(lái)工作有關(guān)的研究,但他并未詳細(xì)說(shuō)明該部門的未來(lái)。
2020年9月,未來(lái)論壇啟動(dòng)時(shí),埃利奧特發(fā)表了一篇博文,簡(jiǎn)要介紹了未來(lái)論壇的使命,他說(shuō):“突然向遠(yuǎn)程辦公轉(zhuǎn)變,讓我們有機(jī)會(huì)對(duì)數(shù)十年來(lái)朝九晚五、以辦公室為中心的傳統(tǒng)單一辦公文化提出質(zhì)疑?!?/p>
在決定關(guān)閉未來(lái)論壇之前,有報(bào)道稱,賽富時(shí)正在強(qiáng)制要求管理者酌情決定的部分員工重回現(xiàn)場(chǎng)辦公,盡管未來(lái)論壇的研究發(fā)現(xiàn)了靈活辦公的好處。
此外,賽富時(shí)還采取了一系列削減成本的措施:公司在今年1月裁員10%,員工“感恩”獎(jiǎng)金被削減了40%,董事會(huì)的并購(gòu)委員會(huì)被解散,貝尼奧夫?qū)T工表示計(jì)劃削減30億美元至50億美元成本。
新上任的Slack首席執(zhí)行官利代尼·瓊斯在公司內(nèi)部頻道中寫道:“未來(lái)論壇為我們確定市場(chǎng)定位和構(gòu)思一種效率更高的全新工作方式,發(fā)揮了關(guān)鍵作用。在Slack,我們依舊致力于靈活的、包容的辦公模式,并繼續(xù)開(kāi)展影響深遠(yuǎn)的工作。”
貝尼奧夫?qū)h(yuǎn)程辦公的態(tài)度逆轉(zhuǎn)
2021年,賽富時(shí)以280億美元收購(gòu)Slack,這也意味著公司的理想發(fā)生了變化。Slack的聯(lián)合創(chuàng)始人、擔(dān)任首席執(zhí)行官十多年的斯圖爾特·巴特菲爾德一直倡議所有員工靈活辦公,他認(rèn)為靈活辦公是未來(lái)公司成功不可分割的一部分。(2022年12月,巴特菲爾德突然宣布將從Slack離職。)
2022年10月,巴特菲爾德對(duì)《財(cái)富》雜志的總編輯艾莉森·肖恩特爾表示:“人們確實(shí)想要框架,喜歡邊界,但他們不喜歡被其他人指手畫腳,因此我認(rèn)為關(guān)鍵是,在給人們?cè)O(shè)立一定的框架時(shí),不能讓人們感覺(jué)他們的自主權(quán)被剝奪,或者他們的想法不重要。”
但現(xiàn)在至少已經(jīng)不能再對(duì)貝尼奧夫說(shuō)這樣的話。今年2月,貝尼奧夫在分析賽富時(shí)面臨的障礙的文件中寫道,在新冠疫情期間遠(yuǎn)程辦公過(guò)程中,“健康文化的重要性超過(guò)了高績(jī)效文化”。2022年12月,他在Slack上的#all-salesforce頻道里稱,新冠疫情期間招聘的員工“效率更低”。然后他提出了幾個(gè)問(wèn)題,希望得到反饋:“這是否體現(xiàn)了我們的辦公室政策?我的管理者是否有直接與他們的團(tuán)隊(duì)討論效率問(wèn)題?”
今年3月的早些時(shí)候,貝尼奧夫在《On With Kara Swisher》播客中表示,他“憑經(jīng)驗(yàn)可以確信”,新招聘的員工“如果在現(xiàn)場(chǎng)辦公,相互面對(duì)面,接受入職培訓(xùn)和專業(yè)培訓(xùn)”,就將有更高的績(jī)效。
他說(shuō):“如果他們?cè)诩肄k公,沒(méi)有經(jīng)歷這些流程,我并不認(rèn)為他們能夠取得同樣的成功?!?/p>
這與貝尼奧夫在2022年夏天的觀念大相徑庭。當(dāng)時(shí)他還批評(píng)重回現(xiàn)場(chǎng)辦公的強(qiáng)制命令。他當(dāng)時(shí)表示,重回現(xiàn)場(chǎng)辦公“永遠(yuǎn)不可能成功”。
據(jù)《財(cái)富》雜志獲得的音頻會(huì)議記錄顯示,貝尼奧夫在今年1月的公司全體大會(huì)上承認(rèn),將Slack的文化融入賽富時(shí)的文化“不太成功”?!耙恢币詠?lái)的問(wèn)題是,Slack的文化始終沒(méi)有融入到賽富時(shí)的文化,除非在賽富時(shí)有一些Slack的文化元素,否則所謂的整合在任何意義上都沒(méi)有實(shí)現(xiàn)。只是Slack的文化被消滅了而已?!保ㄘ?cái)富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:劉進(jìn)龍
審校:汪皓
Salesforce-owned Slack is sunsetting Future Forum, a consortium that conducted quarterly surveys of 10,000 office workers globally on flexible and remote work, and repeatedly found it was popular with most workers. Among other things, it found that flexible work has a positive impact on productivity, fosters trust between employees and employers, and decreases employee turnover. This comes amid Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff’s push for workers to return to the office.
On March 24, the executive leader of the Future Forum, Brian Elliot, wrote “there’s no easy way to say this” to employees in Slack’s internal #friends-of-future-forum channel, disclosing that the company planned to shut down the research group at the end of March, according to screenshots of the message seen by Fortune. He did not cite a reason for the closure, and a Slack spokesperson was not immediately available for comment.
“I believe this is what’s best for Slack,” Elliot wrote, adding that the company will continue its investment in research around the future of work, but did not describe details for what lies ahead for the consortium.
At the launch of Future Forum in September 2020, Elliot wrote a blog post that outlined its mission, citing “the sudden move to remote work provides the opportunity to question decades of orthodoxy about a 9-to-5, office-centric, homogeneous work culture.”
The decision to shutter the Future Forum comes after reports that Salesforce is mandating a return to the office for some employees at a manager’s discretion—despite the benefits of flexible work that Future Forum found in its research.
What’s more, Salesforce has executed a litany of cost-cutting measures: 10% of the company was laid off in January, an employee “gratitude” bonus was lowered by 40%, the board’s M&A committee was disbanded, and Benioff told staff he was looking to cut $3 billion to $5 billion in costs.
“The Future Forum team has been critical to crafting our market position and helping companies envision a new, more productive way of working,” newly appointed Slack CEO Lidaine Jones wrote in the channel. “We remain committed to flexible, inclusive work at Slack and will carry forward your impactful work.”
Benioff’s turn against remote work
The changing of hands at Slack—Salesforce acquired it for $28 billion in 2021—has also meant a change in ideals. Slack’s co-founder and CEO of over a decade, Stewart Butterfield, has long advocated for flexible work for all employees, which he believes will be integral to business success going forward. (Butterfield unexpectedly announced in December that he would be leaving Slack.)
“People do want structure, and people like boundaries,” Butterfield told Fortune editor-in-chief Alyson Shontell two months earlier, in October. “But they don’t like to be told what to do, so I think the secret is to not make them feel like their autonomy is being denied or that their ideas aren’t important, while still giving some structure.”
The same can’t be said for Benioff, at least not anymore. In February, in a document outlining Salesforce’s obstacles, Benioff wrote that “wellness culture overpowered high performance culture” during pandemic-era remote work. And in December 2022, he wrote in the #all-salesforce Slack channel that employees hired during the pandemic had “much lower productivity.” He followed that by soliciting feedback: “Is this a reflection of our office policy? Are our managers not directly addressing productivity with their teams?”
Earlier March, on the On With Kara Swisher podcast, Benioff said he “knows empirically” that new hires perform better “if they’re in the office, meeting people, being onboarded, being trained.”
“If they are at home and not going through that process, we don’t think they’re as successful,” he said.
It was a big departure for Benioff from just last summer, when he criticized return-to-office mandates in general. They’re “never going to work,” he said at the time.
In a company town hall in January, Butterfield admitted he “wasn’t very successful” in integrating Slack’s culture with that of Salesforce, per an audio recording of the meeting Fortune obtained. “The problem has been, there’s no incorporation of the Slack culture into the Salesforce culture, and unless there is some element of that, then it’s not integration in any sense. It’s just the elimination.”