Flexible Work System → Metaverse Work System
→ Pilot Work System → Kakao On
Union "Work System Confusion Due to Leadership Change"
"Employee Complaints Over Lack of Communication"
Request to Meet with Center Director Kim Beom-su
[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] Kakao is experiencing internal conflict over its ‘work system.’ The new work system, Kakao ON, which will be applied from March, was the source of the issue. The main points are prioritizing office attendance and reducing the biweekly “Nolgeum” (play Friday) to once a month. This appears to be a conflict surrounding the Return to Office (RTO) policy, which encourages employees to return to the office. However, employees claim, "The work system has changed four times in a year, increasing confusion among members," and "We are voicing the need to improve this unstable environment."
On the 18th, the Kakao labor union requested a meeting with Kim Beom-su, head of the Kakao Future Initiative Center, to hear the company’s direction. Since the announcement of the new work system, Kakao’s union membership has increased by 10% compared to before. Currently, there are 4,000 union members across the Kakao community (affiliates), of which 1,900 are Kakao members. If recognized as a majority union, the Kakao union can act as the workers’ representative. The significant increase in union membership is attributed not simply to changes in the work system but to frequent system changes and a lack of communication from management. Seo Seung-wook, head of the Kakao branch, pointed out, "Employee dissatisfaction has accumulated as the work system has changed four times in the past year."
In November 2021, Kakao announced ‘Flexible Work System 2.0,’ allowing organizational units to choose between office and remote work. Six months later, Kakao introduced the ‘Metaverse Work System,’ which focuses on voice communication regardless of location. This system was scheduled to be implemented in January this year. At that time, Kakao created hot desks in the new headquarters, which was about to open, and reduced the size of the cafeteria to match the work system.
One month after announcing the Metaverse Work System, Kakao announced the ‘Pilot Work System.’ The core of this system was the biweekly “Nolgeum” (play Friday). Then, six months later, in December last year, Kakao announced the implementation of the ‘Kakao ON’ work system, which overturned all previous systems. This system reduced the “Nolgeum” from biweekly to once a month. Seo said, "Kakao has had many leadership changes over the past year, and each change affected systems such as the work system," adding, "There are doubts about the verification of leadership capabilities and procedures."
Kakao has had five CEO changes from 2018 to the present. Seo pointed out, "The scope of management itself is ambiguous, and the range of non-registered directors besides the CEO is not known." He also said, "Usually, senior executives are contract employees who are evaluated and re-contracted after their term ends, but some senior executives in Kakao affiliates are regular employees, which is also a problem." He questioned whether senior executives who cannot be dismissed even if they do not produce results would really work with responsibility.
The union demands strengthened communication and institutionalization of various management changes. They argue that frequent executive replacements and executives not completing their terms indicate problems in the executive appointment process. In response, Kakao stated, "In the future, when changing work systems and others, we will seek the consent of organizational members based on diverse communication."
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