After ditching two-thirds of its office space and selling its Chicago headquarters, Allstate Corp. realized that even employees who prefer working remotely still need a place to gather with their coworkers from time to time.
In the coming months, a quarter of the insurance giant’s 54,000 corporate employees in cities like Atlanta, Tampa and Minneapolis will be able to meet up with colleagues in offices booked by the day through a coworking platform called LiquidSpace. Others will work in traditional leased space where desks have been jettisoned for cozy cafes, quiet libraries and event spaces.
While companies like Amazon.com Inc., Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and United Parcel Service Inc., force staffers back to the office, and others remain fully remote, Allstate is trying to thread the needle with a mix of options that keep flexibility a priority but avoid asking workers to trudge into an office only to spend most of the day in front of their screens in virtual meetings.
“We’re building something new,” said Lauren DeYoung, who, as Allstate’s “workplace futurist,” is spearheading the transition. “When I talk to our people, they’re just so surprised we’re doing this, and trying somet