New Haven Register (Sunday) (New Haven, CT)
BACK IN THE OFFICE
How Connecticut’s corporate giants are reopening workplaces
Two years after the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily shut down corporate workplaces across the state, the return to offices is well underway.
The largest companies across the state have reopened their offices, virtually all with more flexible arrangements than they offered before the pandemic. Most are not following specific guidelines such as mandatory days or percentage of the workweek that must be in the office.
To assess how the state’s largest companies are running their workplaces, Hearst Connecticut Media contacted the seven largest Connecticutheadquartered firms on the 2021 Fortune 500 list — the ones in the top 250 — to ask them about their policies for office occupancy and remote work. These are not the largest workplaces in the state; rather, they are the largest publicly traded corporations based here.
Following are their responses with headquarters location and rank on the Fortune list:
Cigna, No. 13, Bloomfield:
“We encourage flex employees — those who can work both at home and in the office — to begin coming into the office more regularly for collaboration, connection and networking opportunities. We call this concept ‘Purposeful Presence.’ It’s intentionally simple and based on our core belief and trust that performance is based on outcomes, not physical presence.
“While we do not require employees to come into the office a certain number of days a week, we ask managers to take a thoughtful and empathetic approach and encourage employees to come into the office as needed and when outcomes would be best achieved when physically together.”
Charter Communications, No. 64, Stamford:
Declined to comment.
The Hartford Financial Services Group, No. 142, Hartford:
“More than half our employees continue to work remotely; many already worked remotely full time before the pandemic. Others who worked full time in the office before the pandemic have moved to a hybrid model, going to the office for purposeful activities that are better performed together, and working remotely when focused time is needed to accomplish objectives and being in the office isn’t necessary. The office will continue to serve as the primary workplace for many others, including those performing business essential functions.”
Synchrony, No. 187, Stamford:
“Synchrony believes in flexibility — which is why it is up to our employees to decide what works best for them. Synchrony employees can work from home full time, coming in when business needs require or in a hybrid approach for those who want
to come into the office a few days a week.
“We continue to make the Stamford campus flexible and inviting, rolling out activities and special events for employees during our peak traffic days. We launched flexibility for all after our company survey revealed the majority of our workforce want some form of work from home post-pandemic.”
XPO Logistics, No. 190, Greenwich:
“While a vast majority of our employees in Greenwich continue to come into the office most days, we also offer the flexibility for hybrid working arrangements as well as the possibility to work 100 percent remote.”
Stanley Black & Decker, No. 209, New Britain:
“Stanley Black & Decker is embracing a hybrid working model, empowering employees and their managers to choose between working fully remote, in the office or being remote part time. Our employees that have chosen our part-time remote option will be in the office two to three days per week.”
Otis Worldwide, No. 236, Farmington:
“The health and safety of all of our colleagues, as well as our customers and the riding public, continues to be our top priority.
“Our field professionals in Connecticut, as well as across the globe, were deemed essential throughout the pandemic and have continued to work to keep critical infrastructure safe and moving. Our Connecticut facilities remain open for essential workers and for colleagues who choose to work from the office — with protocols consistent with the recommendations of public health officials.”