To the end As of 2022, several employers, some citing Elon Musk, told me they planned to bring back the in-person work culture the following year to help promote productivity and, in some cases, loyalty. One founder even told me over his drink that they weren’t worried about losing talent, stating that those who leave just because there’s an in-person mandate weren’t really mission-driven to begin with.
While some founders are clearly determined to return, others are confused. There’s the argument, sometimes coming from venture capitalists desperate to see portfolio companies succeed, that being in person will help increase productivity and eventually the bottom line. And there’s also the counterargument that remote work allows for more inclusive and expansive hiring, which could also help, well, the bottom line.
And if 2023 isn’t the year for the bottom line, I don’t know what else might be. Kruze Consulting, a start-up accounting firm, analyzed the financials of more than 750 companies, including more than $300 million in quarterly revenue and more than $750 million in quarterly expenses. I spoke with Healy Jones, who heads Kruze’s financial planning and analysis, about his findings. The results, she thinks, offer some balance to the debate.
