Verkada Office Work Drives Sales, COVID Concerns and Challenges

Published Jul 15, 2021 12:55 PM

While many tech companies are moving to ongoing remote work, Verkada has firmly focused on office work, helping the company drive sales while increasing COVID concerns and challenges for employees who do not want to be in the office.

IPVM Image

Staffers at Verkada - which ended optional work-from-home June 15 - say the pressure is institutional, stemming from upper management and executive chairman Hans Robertson who has built an aggressive sales-driven culture and was heard saying "I get nervous if I don't see people in the office working".

This has caused frustration and health fears among Verkada workers amid resurgent COVID cases sparked by the Delta variant. This also risks long-term recruitment and retention difficulties for Verkada due to the popularity of work-from-home.

Verkada disputed the findings of this report, stating it is "unfortunate that despite our extensive communications encouraging employees to make the decision that is best for their health, that some employees were left with the mistaken, and wrong, impression" that remote work was discouraged.

******* ****** * ****** ***** ***** took ***** *** ****** ** "********** people ** **** ******** ** **** feel ***********, ***** ********* *********** *** are ****** ** **** ** ********* to **** **** **** *** ****** to **** **** *** ******, ** long ** **** *** *** ******** testing *** ******** ****** ********** *** safety **********."

"When ***'** ** *** ****** *** **** ******"

******* *** **** *** *** *****, CA ************ **** ********** *** ******** except *** * ****** (***** ***** early **** ****) **** ***** **** Bay **** **** ********* ****** *******. While ****-****-**** *** ********** ** ****** at *******, ******** ******* **** **** they **** ******** ** **** ** even ****** *** ****** ** *** pandemic **** ****:

IPVM Image

**** *** ******* ****** ** **** into *** ******. ******** *** ******* you *-* ***** * *** [...] They **** **** "**** ***'** ** the ****** *** **** ******."

*** **** ** **** ** ******* that's **** *** ******* *****. **** people **** ******** ** ****** ******** and ******* *****'* ****** ****. ******* fostered **** **** ** ***********.

[**] *** ***% * *******. * refused ** ** **** ** *** office *** *** ******* **** *** relayed ** ** ***, *** ****** ups ****** *** ** ** **** in *** ****** *** ** ***** be ******* **** ** **** **** and ** **** ** *** **** in *-* ***** * **** **** would *** ** ******, *** **** to ** ** *** ****** ** not ** ***.

** *** *** ** *** *** we ***'* ****** ****. *** ***** 2 *** *******, ** **** **** City *** ****** ****** * ********? We're ******* ******* *** ****** ******* at ***** *********.

Verkada **** ******** **** **** ****

******* ***** ******** ****-****-**** ** **** 15, ****, *** ******* ********* ** IPVM. ** ********, **** ************************* ******** ****-****-**** ************. ******** ******* senior ******** **** **** ** *** top ***** ** *******'* *** ***** headquarters, ****** ****** **** ********** ********** for ****.

******* ********* **** ** "********** ****** to **** ******** ** **** **** comfortable" ***** ********* "*** ****** ** come **** *** ******" *** ***** who *** "****** ** **** ** difficult" ** **** **** ****:

*** *** *** ** ** ****** have ************ *********** ***** *** ***** we **** ***** ** **** ****** safe, ********** ****** ** **** ******** if **** **** ***********, ***** ********* individuals *** *** ****** ** **** it ********* ** **** **** **** the ****** ** **** **** *** office, ** **** ** **** *** the ******** ******* *** ******** ****** distancing *** ****** **********.

******* ***** **** *** ****** *** mostly ****** *** ** ******** ** the ********'* ***** ** ***** **** with * "****** *********" ********* ** June ****:

** ********** **** *** ********** *** state ***********, ** ***** * ****** reopening ** **** ** **** *** employees *** ***** ******* ** **** difficult *** ******* ********* *********** ** protect *** ****** ** *** *********

"I *** ******* ** * ***'* *** ****** ** *** ******"

******** ******* **** **** *** ******** to **** **** *** ****** **** directly **** *** ***, **** *** hearing ******* ******* *** ********* ******** Hans ********* ****** "* *** ******* if * ***'* *** ****** ** the ****** *******". ** **** *** covered, ******** ******* *** **** ********* is ******* ********-******* *******, *** *** ***** ********.

IPVM Image

**** **** "* *** ******* ** I ***'* *** ****** ** *** office *******" **** ******. **** ******* on ****** ****** *******, ** **** work **** **** ** ***** **** won't *** **** ****

******* ****** **** ** *** ******** also ********* ****** ** **** ** work:

** ********** ***** **** *** *** because ******** *** ********** ***** **** to **** ** *** ****** [...] HR ****** ***** **** *** **** were **** ******* *** **, ******** their ***** - **** **** **** 'when ***'** ** *** ****** *** work ******.'

******* ********* **** **'* "********** *****" that ****** ** ** "********* *** preference *** ***** *********** ****** ****":

** ** *********** **** ******* *** extensive ************** *********** ********* ** **** the ******** **** ** **** *** their ******, **** **** ********* **** left **** *** ********, *** *****, impression – *** ** ** ********** false **** ****** ** *** ****** Team ********* *** ********** *** ***** individuals ****** ****.

Verkada ******* ****** ****** ****

******* **** *******'* **********, *****-****** ******* encourages **-****** ****. *** ****** ** a "****** **** ***********" **** ** "underlying ********" ** **** **, ******* getting "***** *******" *** *** ****** in:

*** *****, *** *****'* ** ********** pressure ** *** *** ***** ******* if *** ***'* **** ** *** office. ** *** *** **** *******, you *** **** **** ****. ** you're ***, **** *** ***, "*** don't *** **** ** *** ******?" Managers **** ** **** **** * stock ******* ***** ***** **'* *** happening. ******* ***-**-******* ********** ***** *** feel **** ********. * ****** **** environment.

******* ****** ******, ****** ******** ** the ***** ***** ** "**** **** other **", **** ********** ***** ***** would ****** ** ****-****-**** *** **********:

* ***** ******** ** *** ******* is *****-******, **** **** ** **** each ***** **, ***** ** ********* easier ** ***'** ****-**-****.

***** **** ******* *** ******** ** strong ******* *****, ** **** *********** to *******'******* ******************** ********.

Fears **** ********* ***** ***** ** ******* *****

******* **** ** ******* ***** **** month **** ****** ** ***** *** had ***** *** ******** ************, **** confirmed, **** *** ******** ******* ******** the *** *****, *** ******* *** not ******** **** ******** **** ** the ***** ******* ******* ***** ******* HR ****** ******** ** **** **** "we ****** *** ********* **** ** employee ***** ******** *** *****-**"; *******, close ******** **** ******** ************, **** a ****** ******* **** **** **** this *** **** ** ******** *** event ******* ** **** ***** ******** it ***** ***** * ***** ***** at *** ******* ** ******** **:

** *** ********* *** ******* ****** that ** ******** **** ** **** positive, **** ***** ******* ** ***** that ***** **** '*** ***** ********' [...] *** ***** **** ********* ***** was ** ***** [...] *** ****** they ****'* **** *** ** ***** is **** ***** **** ** **** close ******** ** ***** ** * [COVID] ***** *** *** *******

* ******* ************ ********* **** "** one *** ******** **** ***** ****** positive *****" ******** "******** **** **** event", * ********** ******** *** **** positive *** *** ** ********:

**** ** * ******** ******************* ** the *****. **** ***** *** **** offsite ** **** *, ****. ************* 30 ****** **** ******* *** ******** with *** *****’* ***** ********** ** masks. *** ***** ****** ****** **** outdoors *** **** ********** **** ********, with *** ********* ** *********** ******** and *************.

*** **** ******** ** ****** *** attended **** **********, **** ****** ****** negative ****** ********* *** ***** ***no *** *** ******** **** ***** ****** ******** *****.

We *** *** ********** ******** *** ****** ******** ******* ** *** ****** *** *****-** ******** **** **** *****. We followed all state laws and CDC guidance, as well as contact tracing to notify any individual who came into contact with that person. We did not have any other people who had contact with that person test positive. [emphasis added]

**********, ******* *** ****** ** ***** one ***** ***** ****** *** ******** as**** ******* ** *******,******* ** ****** ***** **** *** masks *** ** ****** **********, ********* then*** ***** ****** ****** ****** ******:

IPVM Image

** *** ****, ******* **** "**** is * ********* ** *** ******* COVID ****** ******. ********* *** *** not **** * **** **** **** home."

"I ***'* **** ****"

* ****** **** ******* **** *** strictly ******* **** ******* *** ******* adding **** ****'* "**** ****" **** rare ****-******* *** ******-***** *****:

* ***'* **** ****, ****** ****'* wearing ***** ***** **** ** *** common *****. **'** **% ********** *** the **** ****** **** **** *** is ****** ** ****** **** **** got ***** ***** **** [...] ** one ** ******* ****** ***** * week. *****'* ** ****** ** ***** to ****** ** ** ****** ***** getting ******

*** **** ***** *********-*****, * **** ***'* **** **** eating *****

** ********, ******* **** ** ******** "incentives *** **** ***" *** ***** to *** ********** *** **** **% of *** ***** *** "***** **********". Verkada **** ****** ** *** "***** a ****** ** ********* ********" ********* hiring *** ****** **-**** *** **** COVID ******* *** ********** **********:

******* *** ***** * ****** ** proactive ******** ********** *****-** ** ****** the ****** *** ****** ** *** employees – **** ********* **** *****-** testing ** *** ****** *** *********, employing ** ***** *** ** **** nurses ***** ***, ******** ** ******* tracing, ************* *** ****** ***** *** installing ********** ** ****** ****** **********, and ******* **** *** ***** ******’* Department ** ****** ** ****** ** followed *** *********** *** ***********. *** approach *** ****** **** ******** ** CDC ******** *** **** *********, *** State ** **********’* ****** *** *** health *** ****** ** *** ****.

Verkada ******* ********

******* ****** * ******** ** *** COVID *********** ******* **** **** ****** "we ***** *** ********** *********" *** working "*********** ********" *** ******* **** "themselves *** ********* ****":

** ***** *** ********** ********* *** have **** ***** *** ****** **** the **** **** ** **** *********** remotely *** ********** ********** **** **** done ** ***** *** ********* ******* while ******* ********** *** ***** ********* safe.

******* **** ****** *** "****** ** ****** *****" **** *** *** **, ****.

IPVM Image

Risks ******* ********** & *********

*** **** **** ******** ******** ********* concern ***** *******'* ***** ********** ***** harming ******* *********** *******; ******** ******* said **** *** ******** ** ***** for ********** *** ********* *** ******:

* **** * *** ** ******* who *********** ***** *** **** **** did *** **** *** **** **** they **** **** '*** **** ** be ** *** ******'.

* ********** **** ****** *** **** told ** **** ** *** *** Area ****** *** ******** ** ** at *** ******. *** **** **** they're ******* ****** ** ******** ** insane. ******** [******* *******] *'** ********* that ** ** *******.

** **** ******* **** **** ** feel ****** *** **** ** *** want ** **** **** [...] ** you **** ** **** *** **** people, ********** ******* *****, *** **** to ** **** ********.

*** ** ******* ** ***** **** firms *** ***** ******* **** ****

** ******, *******'* *** ***** ******** do *** *********** ****** *********** ** 'sales ********' - *** *****, ****** college ******** **** ********* ******* ** hire, ***************** "**** *** ******** ****". *** it **** **** ******** ** *** employees ******* ** **** ****. ****-****-**** is ******** **** ******* ** **** and ** **** ******** *** ********** of **** *******, ************ ***** **** more ********** *** ********.

**********, ******, ******* *** ********* ****** strong ***** ****** *** ** **** can ******* ** **** (***%+ ****** in **** ** *** ******, ******* say), *** ****** **** ****** ** office **** *** ** ********, ** at ***** *** * ******* ** Verkada.

Vote / ****

Comments (18)
Avatar
Robert Wren Gordon
Jul 15, 2021
IPVMU Certified

***** ******, *******!

*********** ***** ***** ****** ****. ** the *** ****, ***** *** * lot ** *********** ************* **** ****** experience *** ***’* **** **** ***********. On *** ***** ****, ***** *** a *** ** ***** ****** ************* (i.e. ****/**/** *****) *** **** ***’* have ****** ********** ***/** **** **** remote **** ** ********—***** *** *** kinds ** ****** *** ********* *** in *****-***** ***** *** **** *** probably ******* ***** ****** ****.

*** ** ***, * ***’* **** if *******’* ********** *** **-****** **** is * **** ********.

(1)
(1)
JH
John Honovich
Jul 15, 2021
IPVM

***** *** *** ***** ** ****** you ********* *** ** *****-***** ***** and **** *** ******** ******* ***** office ****.

******, *** **** **** ** *** most ******* ******* *** ****. **** will ** *********** ** *** ** being **** ******** ********* *** ********** that **** **. *** **** ** the ***** ** ********** *** **** challenges **** ******* **** ********** **** experienced *********?

(1)
Avatar
Charles Rollet
Jul 16, 2021

*** ******, ** ** *** *********** a **** ******** *** *******, *** new ******* ***** *** ** ********* by * ***-****** ********* ***** *** last **** ** **. ******* ** the **** *** ** *** ******* matures, ****** **** ******* *******, * think **** **** **** ******* ****** experienced ******** ** **** ****** ***** risks ********* ******** ******** **** ***'***' *******,****** **********,******* *************. ******* **** ** ** ******** these ****** ** ******, *** ** may ** ****** ******* ******** * more *********/******-******** *********** *** ******* ***** of *****.

MM
Michael Miller
Jul 15, 2021

** ** **** *** **** ** fill * **** **** ** ******** when *** *** * *******.

IPVM Image

(8)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
Jul 15, 2021

* *** ** ***** **** ****** complaining ***** "*** ******* ****" *** happy ** ** ** ****, ***********, and ********. ****** **** **** ** work **** **** ** **** *****.

(7)
U
Undisclosed #2
Jul 15, 2021

*** **** ******* **** ***** ****** install **********?

(2)
UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #3
Jul 15, 2021

******** **** **** ****** ********* *** months *** *** ******* *********. *** COVID **** ********* **** ** ******* extremely *****. * **** **'* *** to *** ** *******, *** **** article ***** ***** *** ****** *** late. ** * ******** ** ** outraged **** **** **** ****** ** come **** ** *** ******?

*****, *** ****'* ******** **.

(7)
(1)
UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #4
Jul 15, 2021

**** ** *** **** ** *** case ******* (****** ******** *** ***.), they *** ******* ***** ** **** area’s *** ***** ****** *** *** vaccinated *** ********* **** **** ******* illness, **** ***** **** **** *** are *** **********. ******* ******** *** allowing ***** ****** ** **** **** the ******. ******* ********!

(1)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
Jul 15, 2021

****, ******* *****. ***'* **** ********** down ***** *** ******* ******'* ***** to ******* *******...

IPVM Image

(2)
UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #4
Jul 16, 2021

*** *******. * **** ** *** spiking ** **** ****'* (*** ***** total *** *** ***** ** *** huge *** ******** *** ***** *** and ***** ** **** **********).

*** ******* ***** ******* **** ****. How ***** ****** ******* * **** to ***** ****** ********* *** ******* sick *** ******* **** **** ***** groups. ******* ******* ** *** **** and **** *** ** * *** a ****** ** ***** * ***** want ** **** *** ***** ** refuse ******* ** *** **** ** care *** ** ****-***** *** ***'* believe ** * ******* ***** *** been ****** ** ******* ** ************* reduce ***** ** ****** ******** **** fully **********.

(3)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
Jul 16, 2021

****, *** ***'* **** *** * vaccine ******** *** ***** ******* ******* privacy. **** ****** *** ***** **** know ** *** **** *** *** vaccine ** * ****** ***'* *** that *****. * ******** ** ******'* and ******* ***** **** **** ********** so ** *** *** ***, **** should ** ****, *****? ** **** have *** **** ***** **** *** proper ********. ***** ** ***** ** a *** ********* ** **** ********, no?

(1)
U
Undisclosed #5
Jul 16, 2021

**** ***, **** ** ** ******** at **** *****. ********* *** ********** this ** ***** "*****" ** ** laughably ************. ***** ****** **** ****** used ** ******* ** ****, **** many ** **, *** ***'* **** to ** **** ** *** ****** out ** *********** - ******. ** they **** ****** * *******, ***** is **** ****** *** **** ** be "******" ** ******* ** *** office. * ****** ***** *** **** who *****'* ****** *** ******* **** a ********* **** ** *****.

**** * **** ***** ** ******* the ***** ** *** [**** ** *** *****] *******!

(4)
(1)
(1)
Avatar
Craig Bruce
Jul 18, 2021
BDH Consulting

**** * ******** *** **** **** to **** **** ****!

***** *** *** **** ****** ** see ** *** **** *** ***********, freely ********** ****** ******.

**** ** *** * ******* ******* this ** * **** ***** *******.

**** ** *** *** **** ** work.

(4)
(1)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #6
Jul 19, 2021

*******!!!

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #6
Jul 19, 2021

* *** ** "*****".

*** ************* *****?

*** * ******* ****** (*********** ** though).

** ***** **** **** **** ***** to **** ** ******* ******* ** their ***** ******* *** ******.

(2)
(2)
(1)
JH
John Honovich
Jul 19, 2021
IPVM

** ** ********* ** *** ******, we ***** ** ******* ******** ******** in ***** ****** *** ** **** reported **** *******'* ******** ***.

** ***** ********* **** ******** ****, ***** *** * *** ** Verkada ********* (*** ****** **** ** see ** *** ******** ******* *********) with *********** ********.

(1)
MM
Michael Miller
Jul 19, 2021

**** ** ***** ***** *** **** company ******* **.

‘*** *******’ ** ****** ***** ******* Pushed *******, *******

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #6
Jul 19, 2021

**.*% ******** ****.

**** **% ** ****** *** ** obesity ***/** ***** ********** ****** **********.

*.*. ******* *** ** ***** = 78.5

****** **** ** *** "*****" ****** were **** **!

**** *** *************.

(2)
(2)