NYC companies relocate to where their workers live

Its been more than 26 months since the pandemic sparked a mass exodus from NYC office buildings and after many firms announced their return-to-office plans and alter shelved them, employees are finally trickling back into their office buildings. But remote work has fundamentally changed the dominance of the corporate workplace. 

To make this shift easier, many companies have adapted and made flexible work schedules, letting employees decide when they want to work in person. But some companies have taken a step further ahead. Companies are picking up their offices and relocating them closer to where their employees live. In New York City, the moves are an effort by organizations to reduce the commute for their workers, which is one of the biggest barriers to getting to work. 

Before the pandemic began, workers in New York City had the longest one-way commute on average in the country- nearly 38 minutes. Gabriel Marquez, managing director of ustwo said that they were moving their office to Dumbo, on the Brooklyn waterfront because the majority of their workers live in Brooklyn. It is better suited for when employees do come into the office, featuring an open-air rooftop with Wi-Fi for meetings, he said. He adds, "We didn’t need the same relationship with the office and have everyone in five days a week. It felt like, culturally, it is a good fit and for a lot of companies like ours in our area."

Source: The New York Times