WeWork is expanding efforts to ensure companies smoothly transition back into offices and host employees that have been working from home over the past year. Earlier this month, the company announced a partnership with New York City and the Chambers of Commerce for each of its five boroughs to provide workspaces equipped to manage life after the coronavirus pandemic. Now, the company has expanded its reach to Washington DC.
Shyam Gidumal, WeWork president and COO of the Americas, said the company wants to work with cities to provide optimal pricing and office options for local businesses that are considering a return to the office.
"You're seeing a lot of different companies that are approaching [hybrid work environments], and what we're trying to do is to say we're going to facilitate that as best as we can because of the footprint that we have," he told Cheddar.
WeWork's network spans 38 countries and about 50 million square feet of real estate that Gidumal said has helped towards planning efforts as countries reopen at varying rates.
"We were able to participate in China and see the recovery that happened in the Far East and how that played itself out," he said.
Gidumal added that the first-hand experience in reopening efforts has prepared the company to provide businesses with the best possible in-office experience.
The program, which began in Miami, is driving demand from small and medium-sized businesses. However, when it comes to trying to gauge where the U.S. stands in terms of returning to normalcy, business for WeWork has yet to return to levels seen before the pandemic — yet.
"We're seeing tour volume, which is one indication, exceed what we had pre-pandemic. So, you're starting to see people come back, and what you're seeing is different aspects of the population coming back in different rates," he said. "Also, obviously, different cities are coming back in different rates."
As companies move forward with getting back into the office, Gidumal said WeWork started planning for safe returns in the spring of 2020, shortly after the pandemic began. With the help of International SOS, a health and security services firm, and other environmental experts, he said the company was able to plan to meet any needs sought by businesses.
"We developed this body of knowledge about how we create that safe environment," he said. "I think a lot of companies, as they are thinking about reopening their own spaces, they have to play catch up in terms of 'what is it that one does in order to create the environment,'" Gidumal said.
