Information technology (IT) companies that took the lead in spreading teleworking during Corona 19 (new coronavirus infection) are returning to “work mode” one after another. It is interpreted that it is because of the judgment that it is more productive to go to the office and work according to the nature of the work. Although the reactions are mixed, some employees express their dissatisfaction with the transfer to work of the already familiar telework system. It is even said that “working from home is an important factor to consider when changing jobs”.
Kakao “Discussion of a new work system”… Will the “surprise” of the 4-day work week disappear?
According to the industry on the 26th, Pangyo IT companies that proactively introduced telecommuting in the aftermath of Corona 19 are recently turning to work directly in the office. After the gaming industry, Kakao is also in discussions with the employee council and unions on a new work system to be implemented from the new year in place of the remote work system introduced since last July.
Meanwhile, Kakao has implemented a “hybrid-type work system” that mixes traditional office work and home work. Until now, if you want, you can stay at home 100% and go to work voluntarily depending on the situation. But lately, signs of change have begun to appear. Kakao CEO Hong Eun-taek was reported to have mentioned the change in work system during an internal open speech last month.
As there are departments that require attendance, the working system is expected to be refined. A Kakao official said: “We are discussing internally, but nothing has been decided yet.” It’s also an interesting question whether to keep the “play every other week (no work on Friday)” system, which has been the envy of the industry. An industry insider hinted, “I know that not only the industry but also the insiders are interested in how Kakao’s new work system will come out.”
Most of the gaming industry has stopped working from home since last June. The judgment that team members should communicate quickly and increase their focus on work in line with the game’s release worked. Usually, when a new game is released, there is a need for quick communication with various departments, including development, in a short period of time, but when working from home, there were difficulties such as delayed feedback.
Netmarble president Bang Jun-hyuk also said in a press conference in January that “development of the game has been difficult since the telecommuting system has been implemented since 2020”. In fact, Netmarble has transitioned to an enterprise-level office work system.
NCsoft and Nexon also continue their trend of going straight to the office next year. On the 21st, through an internal notice, NC formalized the company-wide attendance system, stating, “Following the review for six months, face-to-face commuting is more necessary in the current situation.” Lee Jeong-heon, CEO of Nexon Korea, also announced at a recent Inner Town Hall meeting that he would continue the face-to-face business system. Representative Lee explained, “In order to maximize the effect of collaboration and communication, it is more beneficial to keep face-to-face work in the current situation.”
“It was nice to work from home” vs “Work productivity increases when I go to work”
Employees have mixed opinions about the IT industry’s decision to end telecommuting and return to work. When telecommuting is over, there is an answer that “the separation of work and private life will become clearer and work productivity will increase”, while others have also said: “It is regrettable that there is no need to spend time commuting”.
Person A, an employee of an IT company who lives in Pangyo, said, “I was feeling frustrated because I started working from home and feedback from my team members was being delayed. I felt it would be better to go to work face-to-face.”I think it’s going to go up,” she said. She added, “I can’t ignore the ideas that come from face-to-face meetings or face-to-face company meetings. I don’t think staying at home is the best thing.”
Mr B, who joined as a new employee during the Corona 19 period, said: ‘It has been a year since I joined the company, but there are members who don’t really know their faces because they only communicate via messengers. “. it happens often,” he said.
There are also opinions opposing the end of teleworking. The developer of IT company C said: “Before Corona 19, I was exhausted just from commuting, so I liked working from home.” Another employee of the IT company, Mr D, said: “It’s nice to be able to avoid unnecessary makeup because I work from home and I don’t feel stressed because I only make necessary calls.”
An industry insider said, “Even if Corona 19 is completely over, it will be difficult to go back 100% to the previous style of work.” The attendance system will gradually take root,” he predicted.
Journalist Jo Ara Hankyung.com rrang123@hankyung.com
