How work is changing at Figma | Figma Blog (opens in new tab)

Figma decided to move from a mostly in-person workplace to a hybrid model offering both office-based and remote work. The decision was driven by COVID-19, changing employee needs, and the recognition that both flexibility and in-person connection matter. Rather than wait for other companies, Figma used employee survey data and conversations with hybrid organizations to shape its policy.

Making a Decision During Uncertainty

• Figma separated its long-term workplace strategy from the immediate question of reopening offices.
• Leadership chose to make a decision quickly because uncertainty was increasing employee anxiety.
• Company values, especially “Be Bold,” encouraged Figma to act rather than wait for other companies to set a precedent.
• The team created a custom workforce-planning survey after finding that existing templates did not fit its needs.
• The survey combined quantitative questions with personal stories about:
  • Commutes
  • Productivity during COVID-19
  • Remote-work preferences
  • Desired work schedules and locations

What Employees Wanted

• More than 90% of employees completed the survey within one week.
• Employees had highly varied opinions about what “flexibility” meant, particularly regarding which days should be available for working from home.
• Nearly half of San Francisco-based employees would consider moving to another nearby city if they could work from home several days per week.
• Almost two-thirds would consider moving to a non-hub location by the end of 2022 if all roles could be remote.
• Common motivations included:
  • Lower cost of living
  • Home ownership
  • Being closer to family
• Employees also expressed strong affection for the office and the connection and serendipitous interactions it enabled.
• Although employees generally considered themselves productive, many felt they were not building relationships outside their immediate teams and were missing opportunities to meet new hires.

Lessons from Other Hybrid Companies

Figma spoke with organizations already operating with hybrid models and identified several challenges:

• Employees need a predictable understanding of where colleagues can be found.
• Completely flexible office attendance can produce a largely empty “ghost town” office.
• Shared office days are important for preserving connection and serendipitous collaboration.
• Hybrid work is difficult, particularly when ensuring remote employees are included equally.

Figma’s Hybrid Policy

• Employees must choose whether they are associated with a physical hub or work as remote employees.
• The San Francisco hub would use a flexible model requiring employees to come into the office on at least two specific days each week.
• Those office days would be shared across the hub to ensure people were present at the same time.

Figma’s approach emphasizes making a clear, employee-informed decision while preserving both remote flexibility and the social benefits of office work.