SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Remarking that the pandemic had really awakened him and his senior management to get ahead of the curve, anticipate staff needs and enable the office to flow more freely, sympathetic and self- described “laid-back” CEO Matt Morgenstern allows all his employees to work remotely from the convenience of their cubicles.

The easy-going and progressive Owner and founder of Enfluitiech, located in the heart of the San Francisco Bay, is proud to boast that his loose office rules include about 99 percent of the staff logging hours, completing company projects and reporting to upper management all remotely, from their designated work stations located throughout the main office of Enfluitiech’s headquarters.

“Far before Covid I had already sensed the majority of the staff wasn’t happy with the stuffy, traditional 9–5 schedule,” began Morgenstern. “It caused me to take a step back and really look at what was a priority — my employees and their happiness. Work is about collaboration. Which doesn’t necessarily mean everyone has to be in the exact same location, at the exact same time. There’s room for flexibility there.”

Senior manager Kate Slauson had echoed Morgenstern’s sentiments. “Everyone is still very much ‘in-synch’ with each other as far as communication goes,” commented Slauson. “Oftentimes with remote scheduling and staff placement, real-time discussions die out, productivity suffers, and you’re left scrambling to get everyone on the same page. I have yet to see that here.”

Morgenstern continued. “Like many companies, we operate as a tight-knit family. Would a family really put that many constraints on the other members? It’s important to remember that the more freedom you feel while in the workplace, the more it allows your creative ideas to flow, leading to more productive synergy. Synergy can be felt remotely too – especially if you’re all in the same building,” he chuckled.

As far as the employees are concerned, most welcome the spatial freedom and enjoy the “extra” benefits, so to speak, which accompany this atmosphere. “I’ve noticed recently that if I’ve ever got an issue or question, a supervisor is always nearby, ready to lend a hand or their expertise,” remarked internet sales director, Miles Preston. “I can’t think of any remote work situation that offers that. We’ve got something really unique here.” 

If that weren’t enough, employee relations, specifically concerning conflict / resolution, are also at an all-time high. “I had a situation occur just last week during a Zoom meeting that escalated,” stated marketing coordinator Leslie Gomez. “The outcome had left me in the dark as far as where the team stood with the current project. Fortunately, Tom [team leader] was down the hall so we were able to get it all squared away without any further confusion.”

Morgenstern had reiterated that since this new model works so well and will be the norm going forward, he’s very eager to take the next step; shifting over from the cold isolation of cubicle work to a warmer and more enticing, open-office atmosphere.