Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee
100 signatures reached
To: Neil Blumenthal & Dave Gilboa, co-CEOs of Warby Parker
Warby Parker: Lead with Integrity, Keep Your Team Safe & Allow Us to Continue Remote Work
To: Neil Blumenthal & Dave Gilboa
From: Concerned Warby Parker Customer Relations Employees
Since March of 2020, all of us have proven that we can work effectively from home while also keeping ourselves and our families safe. Despite this, you are mandating that our full-time employees return to in-person work in the office next month, and we are concerned that this decision is being made without our health or safety in mind.
For the past two years, we have continued to provide high-quality service to our customers, despite every challenge presented to us. We have demonstrated that many of our staff not only can work from home, but we can excel by doing so. And we are committed to continuing to meet the needs of our customers but believe we can do so with less risk to each other and those we love by allowing our team to work from home.
The plan to return to in-person work has brought up many concerns among your staff. Without a vaccine requirement, any written policies around regular testing, or the space to social distance, the office environment will prove too dangerous to return to. Many of us - immunocompromised, disabled, living with families or partners, etc. - will have to make a choice between putting our health at risk and losing our jobs. That is a choice no one should have to make.
We know that there are already a number of full-time employees approved to work fully remote, but that this group is at “capacity,” and that part-time employees are able to continue to work remotely. However, there are still many more at-risk, full-time employees who would benefit from a fully remote option. Neil said it himself when he described that “the future of work is going to be more self-directed and flexible” - we ask for that same flexibility and empathy from you.
For our safety, and the safety of our families and communities, we ask that the leadership of Warby Parker extend the option to work remotely to all staff - full-time and part-time - who need it.
Why is this important?
No one should be forced to risk their lives for work. The pandemic continues to spread throughout this country & throughout Tennessee, and sending everyone back into the office right now is irresponsible - especially when we have proven that we can do our jobs, just as effectively, in the safety of our homes. Stand with us and let Warby Parker know that the safety of their staff should be a priority!
