'We wanted to make HQ a perk, not a punishment'
Video-sharing firm Cameo is offering employees a $10,000 annual raise, among other benefits, in exchange for coming to the office four days a week, according to reports.
The company, which is headquartered in Chicago, told employees based in Chicagoland that they can expect the annual raise, as well as free lunch, free parking, and access to on-site gym, when they return onsite.
The benefit will impact 26 Chicago-based employees of Cameo, which has a total of 50 employees in the United States and internationally, CNBC reported.
Steven Galanis, Cameo CEO, said they are providing the benefits to "compensate" employees for returning to the office.
"'Roll out the red carpet' is our first corporate value, and we really felt like we wanted to make HQ a perk, not a punishment," Galanis told CNBC Make It.
According to the CEO, they offered the $10,000 annual raise because they believe it is "meaningful" for employees.
"That might be the difference between them being able to get an apartment in the city or having to take the train because they live with their parents in the suburbs," Galanis said.
The benefits come after Cameo introduced last month a four-day work week to its Chicagoland staff, ordering them to return from Monday to Thursday. According to the CEO, they hope returning to the office will reignite creativity and speed in the organisation.
"What we're really trying to do is maximise the amount of in-person time that our team is getting with each other, and to make sure that we're able to move at the speed of pop culture," he said as quoted by CNBC.
The office-return mandate, as well as its accompanying perks, is limited to employees based in Chicagoland, which includes Chicago, Illinois, and its surrounding suburbs.
The CEO said employees who wanted to move out of Chicagoland following the announcement may do so and won't be subject to the in-office mandate.
So far, however, none of the company's employees have quit or moved out of Chicagoland. In fact, the CEO noted that some have indicated moving closer to the headquarters after the benefits were announced.
In implementing the office return, the CEO said they acknowledge the flexibility that employees have earned. Galanis said he hoped Friday could be a "flex day" for staff, which they can use to take care of personal errands.
Cameo's generous perks come in the wake of worldwide resistance from employees on growing office-return mandates in other companies. Orders to return onsite from Amazon and WPP have been met with dissatisfaction and opposition from their workforce.
Some organisations like Cameo have been implementing or previously rolled out a variety of perks to make the office comeback more inviting, or to convince employees to return. Some of these firms include:
These benefits reflect some of the measures that employers took in a bid to get employees back onsite after the pandemic forced many to work from home.
Harvey John, a specialist recruitment agency, previously warned that rolling out in-office work can be a double-edged sword for companies.
"On the one hand, it's an opportunity to strengthen team cohesion, foster innovation, and create a more dynamic work environment," it said on LinkedIn. "On the other hand, it's crucial to tread carefully to avoid losing valuable team members."
Communication is essential in implementing office return, according to the recruitment specialist.
"Explain the reasons behind the decision and how it benefits both the business and employees. Offering transitional support, such as phased returns or flexible start times, can ease the adjustment," it said.
Ana Koza, Vice President Human Resources at Full Swing Simulators, also offered the following measures on LinkedIn to address the challenges of office return:
