The Great Stapler Crisis: The End of Tech Company Perks?

Google recently announced it would be getting rid of office-based services, laptops, and even the humble stapler, while forcing employees to share desks! No, this is not satire from The Onion. Long gone are the days when the tech industry was synonymous with free food, nap pods, and all-expenses-paid retreats. In a new era of cost-cutting, we're seeing not only the end of generous perks but also the trimming of what used to be considered essentials.  What does this mean for employees who once enjoyed unparalleled office luxuries? Let's find out.

From Staplers to Desks: A Tale of Shared Misery

As tech companies increasingly adopt hybrid and remote work models, many are questioning the necessity of certain office supplies and spaces. Google's decision to ditch staplers may seem trivial, but it's indicative of a broader trend. As employees spend less time in the office, sharing resources becomes the new normal.

Imagine the chaos of employees scrambling to claim the one office stapler, like seagulls fighting over a discarded sandwich. Or picture the simmering resentment as desk-sharing arrangements force workers to elbow each other for space, like subway commuters at rush hour. It's a far cry from the utopian image of the tech industry we once knew.

The Cost of Cutting Corners

While companies may save money by eliminating what they consider non-essential items, they risk alienating their workforce. After all, it's the talented employees who've made these tech giants what they are today. By skimping on basic resources, companies are sending a clear message: You're not worth the investment.

The long-term impact of such penny-pinching can be devastating. Demoralized employees are less productive, less innovative, and more likely to seek employment elsewhere. And when word gets out about the great stapler crisis, the best and brightest may think twice before joining these once-glorious tech behemoths.

Hybrid Work Flexibility: The Ultimate Cost-Effective Perk

In the midst of the stapler saga, tech companies should not overlook the importance of hybrid work flexibility. As a perk, it not only meets the evolving needs of employees but also comes at little to no cost to the company. Having helped 21 companies transition to a flexibly hybrid work model, I find that my clients invariably discover how emphasizing flexibility options can make all the difference in attracting and retaining top talent, even if you’re cutting corners elsewhere due to financial conditions.

The reality is that many employees today are seeking a better work-life balance. Remote work flexibility allows them to achieve this without the need for costly office perks. It's a win-win situation for both employees and employers. Tech companies can save on office-related expenses while offering a highly sought-after benefit that actually improves employees' well-being and satisfaction.

The Shift in Priorities: What Matters Now?

With the decline of extravagant perks and even basic resources, what do tech companies need to prioritize to keep their employees satisfied? The answer lies in a renewed focus on more meaningful benefits.

Employees no longer care about free kombucha on tap; they want flexibility, fair compensation, comprehensive healthcare, and meaningful opportunities for growth. Indeed, they really crave work-life balance, with flexible hours and the ability to work remotely. Instead of ping pong tables and nap pods, they want a supportive, inclusive, and flexible culture that values their well-being and encourages collaboration. No wonder that a recent survey by Cisco reported that, in ranking top priorities by employees, 23% chose flexibility, second only to higher salary at 34%, both of which outranked other priorities like benefits or a sense of purpose. 

As found by my clients in tech, a new focus on remote work flexibility, fair salaries, and benefits, along with opportunities for professional development, presents a more sustainable path for tech companies. Instead of offering fleeting, expensive perks, investing in these long-lasting benefits will contribute to a more satisfied and committed workforce.

Finding the Balance: Where Do We Go from Here?

It's clear that the tech industry is in the midst of an identity crisis. As companies pivot away from the "perks galore" model, they must find a way to strike the right balance between cost-efficiency and employee satisfaction.

The solution doesn't lie in returning to the days of lavish perks, nor does it involve cutting resources to the point of absurdity (goodbye, staplers). Rather, tech companies must invest in the right areas to foster a thriving workforce.

This means offering fair salaries and benefits, providing opportunities for professional development, and embracing a culture of flexibility and work-life balance. Remote work flexibility, in particular, is a powerful tool that can help companies retain top talent and maintain a competitive edge, all without breaking the bank.

The Takeaway: The Stapler Saga as a Cautionary Tale

The stapler saga, though amusing, serves as a cautionary tale for the tech industry. Companies must carefully consider the implications of their cost-cutting measures to avoid harming their relationships with their most valuable asset: their people.

By focusing on the aspects that truly matter – fair compensation, meaningful benefits, and a healthy work environment – and especially emphasizing remote work flexibility, tech companies can navigate these challenging times and emerge stronger than ever.

Let the stapler saga serve as a cautionary tale for the industry: It's time to find a sustainable balance between perks and necessities, ensuring that the workforce remains happy, productive, and engaged. In the end, a satisfied employee empowered by remote work flexibility is worth far more than a hundred staplers.

Key Take-Away

Tech perks gone, focus on fair pay, benefits, work-life balance. Remote work retains top talent. Balance cost-efficiency, satisfaction to keep valuable employees… >Click to tweet

Image credit: Karolina Grabowska/Pexels

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Lauded as “Office Whisperer” and “Hybrid Expert” by The New York Times, Dr. Gleb Tsipursky helps leaders use hybrid work to improve retention and productivity while cutting costs. He serves as the CEO of the boutique future-of-work consultancy Disaster Avoidance Experts. Dr. Gleb wrote the first book on returning to the office and leading hybrid teams after the pandemic, his best-seller Returning to the Office and Leading Hybrid and Remote Teams: A Manual on Benchmarking to Best Practices for Competitive Advantage (Intentional Insights, 2021). He authored seven books in total, and is best know for his global bestseller, Never Go With Your Gut: How Pioneering Leaders Make the Best Decisions and Avoid Business Disasters (Career Press, 2019). His cutting-edge thought leadership was featured in over 650 articles and 550 interviews in Harvard Business Review, Forbes, Inc. Magazine, USA Today, CBS News, Fox News, Time, Business Insider, Fortune, and elsewhere. His writing was translated into Chinese, Korean, German, Russian, Polish, Spanish, French, and other languages. His expertise comes from over 20 years of consulting, coaching, and speaking and training for Fortune 500 companies from Aflac to Xerox. It also comes from over 15 years in academia as a behavioral scientist, with 8 years as a lecturer at UNC-Chapel Hill and 7 years as a professor at Ohio State. A proud Ukrainian American, Dr. Gleb lives in Columbus, Ohio. In his free time, he makes sure to spend abundant quality time with his wife to avoid his personal life turning into a disaster. Contact him at Gleb[at]DisasterAvoidanceExperts[dot]com, follow him on LinkedIn @dr-gleb-tsipursky, Twitter @gleb_tsipursky, Instagram @dr_gleb_tsipursky, Facebook @DrGlebTsipursky, Medium @dr_gleb_tsipursky, YouTube, and RSS, and get a free copy of the Assessment on Dangerous Judgment Errors in the Workplace by signing up for the free Wise Decision Maker Course at https://disasteravoidanceexperts.com/newsletter/.