Harley-Davidson Rides Away From Office Usage, Will Repurpose HQ
While some major employers are struggling to figure out their return-to-office plans, Harley-Davidson isn’t.
Its workers aren't going back.
The company’s CEO, Jochen Zeitz, said that the pandemic and fatherhood highlighted just how much more inclusive a digital office can be, Bloomberg reported.
“It democratizes the way we work together and allows you to bring the best talent into the company, no matter where they sit,” Zeitz told Bloomberg.
With fewer people coming into the office, Harley-Davidson will have a chance to rethink its Milwaukee headquarters.
The company’s 500K SF HQ has been largely closed since March 2020. Zeitz plans to come up with a new purpose for the complex later this year. Though it is unclear what the new use will be, the company said its Milwaukee headquarters will remain integral to the company’s U.S. footprint.
The century-old motorcycle manufacturer’s position on remote work aligns with that of some much younger tech-based companies. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has adopted a remote work-friendly policy for its employees and is scaling back its real estate as a result. Airbnb is transitioning to a fully remote model.
But not everyone in tech is on the remote work bandwagon. Tesla founder Elon Musk told company employees that they need to be in the office at least 40 hours a week or find a job somewhere else.
