HR News: LinkedIn Layoffs, Nike and Roblox RTO, Best Countries for Remote Work, and More

This is a weekly roundup of the latest in HR News.

Times are tough at workplaces. Layoffs and return to office (RTO) mandates dominated the last week's headlines. In addition, a report included the best countries for remote work. In the meantime, HR Exchange Network had an invigorating conversation about embracing global diversity to create a foundation for a positive work culture, strong team building, and great potential for innovation.

LinkedIn, GEICO, and PlayStation experienced layoffs. Nike and Roblox made headlines for RTO policies. Get the details here: 

LinkedIn, Geico, and PlayStation Layoffs

Microsoft-owned LinkedIn cut nearly 700 employees as a result of slower-than-expected revenue. Most of the people impacted come from engineering, but others who lost their job came from finance and Human Resources, according to CNBC. 

At the same time, auto insurance giant GEICO is laying off 6% of its workforce, or about 2,000 people, according to an internal memo obtained by the Hill. 

"The letter did not provide specific reasons for Thursday’s layoffs, but Combs did say inflation, prolonged turnaround for repairs (due to staffing or supply shortages) and 'rising medical costs' had recently posed challenges for the company," according to the Hill. 

Gaming publications, including Video Games Chronicle, shared that several developers announced they had been laid off from the company's San Diego-based Visual Arts Service Group, which launched in 2007 to build up popular franchises. 

READ: The HR Guide to Layoffs

RTO at Nike and Roblox

Yahoo! News suggests in its headline that Nike's increase from three to four days in the office was a sign that hybrid work was a "fake compromise."

"Over the past two years, CEOs have been fighting rounds of pandemic surges and employee pushback to bring workers back to the office. They’ve been somewhat successful, with hybrid work becoming the norm and office occupancy rates hovering around 50%, according to data from building security firm Kastle Systems," according to Yahoo! News. "But leaders aren’t giving up on their dreams of a bustling office or a return on their real estate investment, as 90% of companies intend to return to the office by 2024, per a ResumeBuilder survey." 

In addition, in the last week, Metaverse gaming company Roblox told employees to come back into the office three times per week or take a severance package, according to Fortune. 

"Roblox will provide relocation expenses for employees staying with the company, and severance and six months of health insurance for those who are not. They have until Jan. 16 to make a decision," reports LinkedIn. 

These RTO mandates are increasing tension between employees and employers. The notion that hybrid work was just talk makes sense. Executives seem uninterested in providing employees flexibility, and they keep increasing the amount of time people must be in the workplace, even for jobs that can be done remotely. 

INTERVIEW: RTO or WFH: Which Will Win? 

Denmark Is Best Country for Remote Work

The Global Remote Work Index 2023 by NordLayer ranked Denmark number one for remote work. This list is based on evaluations of the potential of 108 countries to qualify as top remote work destinations. The researchers considered four categories: cybersecurity, economics, infrastructure, and social safety security to ensure the quality of remote work. The United States, which is increasingly facing these RTO mandates, placed sixteenth, while the United Kingdom was nineteenth. Here are the top five countries for remote work: 

1. Denmark
2. The Netherlands
3. Germany
4. Spain 
5. Sweden

HREN Talks Global Diversity

While many in HR have shown their commitment to diversity, they have not spoken as much about how to unite a team of colleagues working across different geographies and time zones. Sophie Taylor, Director of Talent Management and DEI at PAR Technology, was honest and shared the challenges and wins her organization as had on its journey to merge with companies that were headquartered in different parts of the world. The candid conversation offers lots of advice to those in HR trying to bring together a team of people with different perspectives, homes, and backgrounds. Watch it now! 

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