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.