Will Kakao, Naver set trend for remote work in IT industry?
2023-02-02
來源： 開云體育手機app下載
Namkoong Whon, CEO of Kakao / Courtesy of Kakao
By Baek Byung-yeul
Kakao and Naver have announced they will adopt a remote work system as the norm even though some companies are making their employees return to office work ― as the daily number of infections continues to go down gradually, the companies said Tuesday.
Given that the two representative internet companies of the country encourage their employees to work remotely, the IT industry here is paying attention to the move because their ways of working could become a new standard in the industry.
"The two companies have led trends in the IT industry, ranging from annual salary levels to entering new businesses. Encouraging employees to work remotely could set a new standard for people in this industry, who got used to working more comfortably during the pandemic," an official in the IT industry said on condition of anonymity.
Kakao said it will implement what it calls a metaverse working system in July, replacing the remote working system employees are currently using.
Kakao has been letting employees work remotely since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in February 2020, and its Corporate Alignment Center (CAC), which plays a control tower role for affiliates in the group, has been trying to develop more advanced ways of working.
"We conducted several workshops based on various remote work cases and experiences we had over the past two years. As a result, we decided that how to work is more important than where to work," the company said.
The metaverse working system is a way of working that keeps colleagues connected in a virtual space regardless of their physical location. By using various tools such as text, voice and video, employees will be able to handle all their work online, the company said. The company will start test operating the new work system in July.
"After experiencing remote work over the past two years, we have concluded that connection is more important than physical space," Kakao CEO Namkoong Whon said. "We will help the crew work efficiently and establish itself as a culture that penetrates the Kakao community."
Choi Soo-yeon, CEO of Naver / Courtesy of Naver
Naver will also introduce its new Connected Work system, which allows employees to choose freely between office work and remote work from July.
The new work system is divided into Type O, for those going to the office more than three days a week, and Type R for remote work. Naver plans to provide a flexible co-working space so that employees who go for Type R can also come to the office if necessary.
"We have created a trust-based autonomous culture and had top performance," Naver CEO Choi Soo-yeon said. "We will keep seeking ways for employees to immerse themselves in work in an optimal environment."
