Spotify criticises work-from-office policy, says employees aren't 'children'

Spotify has fueled the conversation about whether companies should continue with the work-from-office policy with its latest statement. On one hand, Big Tech companies such as Apple , Google, Amazon , and Meta have insisted its employees should return to offices across the globe, Spotify has joined a handful of companies to advocate for the work-from-anywhere policy. The human resources department’s head has made a striking statement on how it treats its employees.

“You can’t spend a lot of time hiring grown-ups and then treat them like children,” Spotify’s chief human resources officer, Katarina Berg was quoted as saying in a report by Raconteur. “We are a business that’s been digital from birth, so why shouldn’t we give our people flexibility and freedom?” she added while justifying why the streaming giant does not see any reason why work-from-office policy should be made mandatory for its employees.

“Work is not a place you come to, it’s something you do,” Berg added.

Although Spotify has multiple office locations worldwide, its employees are not required to mandatorily attend the work physically. However, its teams zero in on a “core week” when they have to meet up in person to discuss business, and that location does not necessarily have to be one of Spotify’s offices. “We know what happens when people sit down and you can actually look each other in the eye. It’s different to being on screen,” said Berg.

However, she did not rule out the possibility that employees can voluntarily come to offices if they feel comfortable. “Some people like to come into the office and meet people,” she said.

Spotify’s stance on work-from-anywhere policy differs from that of major companies. While Apple and Google have asked several employees to come to the office three days a week, Amazon has mandated attending offices for all employees five days a week.