Verkada Office Work Drives Sales, COVID Concerns and Challenges
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.
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 **** ****:
**** *** ******* ****** ** **** 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 ******* ********-******* *******, *** *** ***** ********.
**** **** "* *** ******* ** 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*** ***** ****** ****** ****** ******:
** *** ****, ******* **** "**** 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.
******* **** ****** *** "****** ** ****** *****" **** *** *** **, ****.
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 / ****
***** *** *** ***** ** ****** you ********* *** ** *****-***** ***** and **** *** ******** ******* ***** office ****.
******, *** **** **** ** *** most ******* ******* *** ****. **** will ** *********** ** *** ** being **** ******** ********* *** ********** that **** **. *** **** ** the ***** ** ********** *** **** challenges **** ******* **** ********** **** experienced *********?
*** ******, ** ** *** *********** a **** ******** *** *******, *** new ******* ***** *** ** ********* by * ***-****** ********* ***** *** last **** ** **. ******* ** the **** *** ** *** ******* matures, ****** **** ******* *******, * think **** **** **** ******* ****** experienced ******** ** **** ****** ***** risks ********* ******** ******** **** ***'***' *******,****** **********,******* *************. ******* **** ** ** ******** these ****** ** ******, *** ** may ** ****** ******* ******** * more *********/******-******** *********** *** ******* ***** of *****.
** ** **** *** **** ** fill * **** **** ** ******** when *** *** * *******.
* *** ** ***** **** ****** complaining ***** "*** ******* ****" *** happy ** ** ** ****, ***********, and ********. ****** **** **** ** work **** **** ** **** *****.
*** **** ******* **** ***** ****** install **********?
******** **** **** ****** ********* *** months *** *** ******* *********. *** COVID **** ********* **** ** ******* extremely *****. * **** **'* *** to *** ** *******, *** **** article ***** ***** *** ****** *** late. ** * ******** ** ** outraged **** **** **** ****** ** come **** ** *** ******?
*****, *** ****'* ******** **.
**** ** *** **** ** *** case ******* (****** ******** *** ***.), they *** ******* ***** ** **** area’s *** ***** ****** *** *** vaccinated *** ********* **** **** ******* illness, **** ***** **** **** *** are *** **********. ******* ******** *** allowing ***** ****** ** **** **** the ******. ******* ********!
****, ******* *****. ***'* **** ********** down ***** *** ******* ******'* ***** to ******* *******...
*** *******. * **** ** *** spiking ** **** ****'* (*** ***** total *** *** ***** ** *** huge *** ******** *** ***** *** and ***** ** **** **********).
*** ******* ***** ******* **** ****. How ***** ****** ******* * **** to ***** ****** ********* *** ******* sick *** ******* **** **** ***** groups. ******* ******* ** *** **** and **** *** ** * *** a ****** ** ***** * ***** want ** **** *** ***** ** refuse ******* ** *** **** ** care *** ** ****-***** *** ***'* believe ** * ******* ***** *** been ****** ** ******* ** ************* reduce ***** ** ****** ******** **** fully **********.
****, *** ***'* **** *** * vaccine ******** *** ***** ******* ******* privacy. **** ****** *** ***** **** know ** *** **** *** *** vaccine ** * ****** ***'* *** that *****. * ******** ** ******'* and ******* ***** **** **** ********** so ** *** *** ***, **** should ** ****, *****? ** **** have *** **** ***** **** *** proper ********. ***** ** ***** ** a *** ********* ** **** ********, no?
**** ***, **** ** ** ******** at **** *****. ********* *** ********** this ** ***** "*****" ** ** laughably ************. ***** ****** **** ****** used ** ******* ** ****, **** many ** **, *** ***'* **** to ** **** ** *** ****** out ** *********** - ******. ** they **** ****** * *******, ***** is **** ****** *** **** ** be "******" ** ******* ** *** office. * ****** ***** *** **** who *****'* ****** *** ******* **** a ********* **** ** *****.
**** * **** ***** ** ******* the ***** ** *** [**** ** *** *****] *******!
**** * ******** *** **** **** to **** **** ****!
***** *** *** **** ****** ** see ** *** **** *** ***********, freely ********** ****** ******.
**** ** *** * ******* ******* this ** * **** ***** *******.
**** ** *** *** **** ** work.
* *** ** "*****".
*** ************* *****?
*** * ******* ****** (*********** ** though).
** ***** **** **** **** ***** to **** ** ******* ******* ** their ***** ******* *** ******.
** ** ********* ** *** ******, we ***** ** ******* ******** ******** in ***** ****** *** ** **** reported **** *******'* ******** ***.
** ***** ********* **** ******** ****, ***** *** * *** ** Verkada ********* (*** ****** **** ** see ** *** ******** ******* *********) with *********** ********.
**** ** ***** ***** *** **** company ******* **.
‘*** *******’ ** ****** ***** ******* Pushed *******, *******
**.*% ******** ****.
**** **% ** ****** *** ** obesity ***/** ***** ********** ****** **********.
*.*. ******* *** ** ***** = 78.5
****** **** ** *** "*****" ****** were **** **!
**** *** *************.
***** ******, *******!
*********** ***** ***** ****** ****. ** the *** ****, ***** *** * lot ** *********** ************* **** ****** experience *** ***’* **** **** ***********. On *** ***** ****, ***** *** a *** ** ***** ****** ************* (i.e. ****/**/** *****) *** **** ***’* have ****** ********** ***/** **** **** remote **** ** ********—***** *** *** kinds ** ****** *** ********* *** in *****-***** ***** *** **** *** probably ******* ***** ****** ****.
*** ** ***, * ***’* **** if *******’* ********** *** **-****** **** is * **** ********.