At present I shared an replace with our workers about the way forward for how we work collectively at Roblox.
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Pricey Roblox Workers,
At present we will probably be asking numerous our distant workers to start working from our headquarters in San Mateo by subsequent summer time and transitioning away from distant work at Roblox. We didn’t make this resolution evenly, as we perceive that the choice to maneuver is critical, each for our workers and for his or her households and family members. All distant workers will obtain an e-mail throughout the subsequent hour with particulars concerning the influence of this resolution on the situation of their roles.
I wish to clarify our rationale for this resolution and supply extra particulars on logistics. I keep in mind clearly the beginning of the pandemic. I used to be planning a global journey and watched, day-to-day, because the probability of any form of journey diminished. After all, the journey by no means occurred and Roblox transitioned to a very distant workforce in March 2020. What we initially thought could be a couple of weeks became a couple of years, and I used to be impressed with how a lot we had been capable of get carried out below actually extraordinary circumstances.
Because the pandemic stretched on, a number of corporations introduced that they might assist 100% distant work for everybody, endlessly. Throughout this time we had quite a few deep discussions and we saved coming again to the notion that, in the end, Roblox is an innovation firm and we would have liked to get again to working in individual. We had been additionally involved about many cohorts, corresponding to our new faculty graduates and other people early of their careers, who usually study via social contact and would miss out on this mentorship. And naturally this requires the presence of senior workers to supply that mentorship.
I personally hoped that for our tradition and our sort of labor, it is likely to be attainable to think about a closely hybrid distant tradition. However there was a pivotal second for me after we had our first post-quarantine, in-person group gathering. Inside 45 minutes I got here away from three separate conversations with spontaneous to do’s and concepts to place in movement, one thing that hadn’t occurred in the course of the previous few years of video conferences.
Now, almost a yr after most of us have returned to our headquarters in San Mateo, we’ve seen how a lot we are able to accomplish, how far we are able to push innovation, and the way being collectively strengthens our tradition. For many people, “Zoom fatigue” is actual. A 3-hour Group Assessment in individual is far much less exhausting than over video and brainstorming classes are extra fluid and inventive. Whereas I’m assured we are going to get to some extent the place digital workspaces are as participating, collaborative, and productive as bodily areas, we aren’t there but.
That is an especially troublesome resolution as a result of the place we stay is a private alternative and it impacts all elements of our lives. We’ve carried out every part we are able to to make this course of as systematic and honest as attainable. Sadly, I do know that some workers will resolve to not be a part of us at headquarters.
There will probably be some distant workers who aren’t requested to return, particularly 1) groups and roles which can be required to be distant (e.g., knowledge facilities, moderators, name facilities, and so on.), and a pair of) people who’ve area of interest ability units or important institutional data (e.g., multi-disciplinary expertise, deep experience with Roblox techniques, and so on.). Presently, we is not going to be extending new presents to distant workers, past the exceptions outlined above. For the distant workers whom we’re asking to maneuver to in-office roles, we are going to present the choice to affix our three-day, in-office schedule (Tues.-Thurs.) or take a severance package deal.
Our highest and most fast precedence is supporting our distant workers whom we now have requested to start working from our workplaces, no matter resolution they make, and making certain that our groups have what they should proceed to satisfy our aggressive targets for this yr and subsequent. For managers of distant workers who select to not transfer, I perceive the burden this will likely placed on you and your groups.
We’ve put plans in place to verify we’re supporting our groups and particular person workers. Right here’s a excessive degree overview of how it will work:
Workers who’re requested to start working from the workplace may have three months, till January sixteenth, 2024, to make that call.
Workers who aren’t capable of relocate may have a further three months, till April fifteenth, 2024, to transition out of their roles as full time workers. Workers will proceed to work throughout this time with no change to their compensation or vesting schedules. This implies all workers, no matter whether or not or not they selected to relocate, will obtain each the November and February quarterly vestings, along with some other vestings they’ve throughout that point.
Workers who’re departing Roblox will obtain a severance package deal based mostly on their particular person degree and time period of service, together with six months of healthcare protection for everybody on their insurance policies.
For workers who select to relocate, we’re asking them to start working from our San Mateo workplaces by July fifteenth 2024, and we are going to help with relocation prices.
Whereas we all know that is the suitable resolution for Roblox, we acknowledge that it might create challenges for a few of our workers. No matter what our distant workers resolve, please know that we deeply admire the onerous work and influence every of you has had at Roblox.
Dave