Future of work newsletter free subscription Future of work newsletter free subscription Future of work newsletter free subscription
  • Marketplace
  • Resources
  • Business Directory
  • Events
  • Advertise
  • Brand Pulse
  • Publish a Press Release
  • Get the Newsletter
  • Contact
  • About Us
The FUTURE OF WORK® since 2003
Allwork.Space
No Result
View All Result
Subscribe
  • More
    • Columnists
      • Dr. Gleb Tsipursky – The Office Whisperer
      • Nirit Cohen – WorkFutures
      • Angela Howard – Culture Expert
      • Drew Jones – Design & Innovation
      • Jonathan Price – CRE & Flex Expert
    • Get the Newsletter
    • Events
    • Advertise With Us
    • Publish a Press Release
    • Brand PulseNew
    • Partner Portal
  • Latest News
  • Business
  • Leadership
  • Work-life
  • Career Growth
  • Tech
  • Design
  • Workforce
  • Coworking
  • CRE
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Columnists
      • Dr. Gleb Tsipursky – The Office Whisperer
      • Nirit Cohen – WorkFutures
      • Angela Howard – Culture Expert
      • Drew Jones – Design & Innovation
      • Jonathan Price – CRE & Flex Expert
    • Get the Newsletter
    • Events
    • Advertise With Us
    • Publish a Press Release
    • Brand PulseNew
    • Partner Portal
  • Latest News
  • Business
  • Leadership
  • Work-life
  • Career Growth
  • Tech
  • Design
  • Workforce
  • Coworking
  • CRE
  • Podcast
No Result
View All Result
Subscribe
Allwork.Space
No Result
View All Result
Home Business

Why WeWork’s Refugee Program Works

Cecilia Amador de San JosébyCecilia Amador de San José
June 27, 2018
in Business
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
WeWork’s Refugee Program

WeWork has launched a program to work with refugees and veterans

  • Last week WeWork announced plans to train and hire 1,500 refugees over the next five years
  • So far, WeWork has hired 150 refugees across 10 countries
  • In an interview with Allwork.Space, PR expert Eric Yaverbaum, explains why WeWork’s refugee program is a “phenomenal PR maneuver”

Last year (2017) WeWork and the International Rescue Committee “started a pilot program to employ recently resettled refugees displaced by war, political unrest, or natural disasters.” Back then, more than 50 people were hired in New York, Chicago, and Boston.

Last week in the context of World Refugee Week, “WeWork announced the expansion of the initiative to the UK, Brazil, and Colombia through direct hiring, new partnerships, and connecting refugees with job opportunities both within and outside of our community.”

The expansion of the initiative is a consequence of the success of the pilot program, which saw a retention rate of over 80%. The WeWork Refugee initiative is a “commitment to hire 1,500 refugees over the next five years.”

Today the coworking giant has hired over 150 refugees across 10 cities. To help them integrate into the community, WeWork is offering monthly events, mentorships, training, and growth opportunities.

Related articles:

  • Refugee Support Group, RiF, Finds Coworking Home In Alley New York
  • Coworking Community Working To Create Solutions For Refugee Crisis
  • All Good Work Finds A Manhattan Home For Co-Living Nonprofit, BASE

Additionally the company also reported having started “several pilots, including one to use its space for partners to teach language skills, as well as another to help entry-level staffers hone their skills in coding and technology,” to aid with the process of assimilation and building a new life.

In the past, companies like Starbucks and Chobani have tried similar programs, but have faced backlash from the public.

To understand why the initiative is working for WeWork and why the response they’ve experienced is so different than those by other companies, Allwork.Space spoke with Eric Yaverbaum, a 35-year public relations and marketing veteran and CEO of Ericho Communications.

In an interview with the Washington Post, CEO of WeWork Adam Neumann said that “the move is not a political statement.” However, Yaverbaum believes it is — even if unconsciously.

“Everything in this country seems to be a political statement. Anybody that does anything that is remotely connected to politics risks adversity. Even if WeWork claims it’s not one, professionally speaking I think what they are doing is a phenomenal maneuver.

“They got out in front of the story, and that is textbook good PR.”

WeWork’s Plan is Close to Perfect

Asked why he believes WeWork hasn’t faced any harsh backlash from the public, Yaverbaum states that it’s because WeWork is also hiring 1,500 veterans.

“When you are hiring 1,500 refugees and 1,500 veterans, it balances the kind of reactionary objections that have in the past played out when other companies made similar announcements.

More stories for you

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Closing Research Division, Cutting Workforce By 23%

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Closing Research Division, Cutting Workforce By 23%

9 hours ago
Amazon Smart-Home Staff Must Prove AI Use To Get Promoted

Amazon Smart-Home Staff Must Prove AI Use To Get Promoted

9 hours ago
Majority Of Fortune 100 Now Require Full-Time Office Return, New JLL Report Reveals

Majority Of Fortune 100 Now Require Full-Time Office Return, New JLL Report Reveals

9 hours ago
Trump Signs Order Creating ‘Schedule G’ To Make Firing Federal Policymakers Easier

Trump Signs Order Creating ‘Schedule G’ To Make Firing Federal Policymakers Easier

9 hours ago

“Because of the way WeWork has positioned refugees and veterans, they get to make a political statement while maintaining a position of neutrality.”

“There are always two audiences in the world of PR. The internal audience and the external one.”

WeWork’s internal audience in fine-tuned into this type of initiative; they are about community, collaboration, and support. “It was only natural for them to be supportive of the initiative.”

As for the external audience, “maybe they haven’t even heard of WeWork or maybe they have but had no idea what WeWork does; now they do and the only association they will have is a positive one.

WeWork achieved the Holy Grail of great communications, which is a big chance for them to attract new business from this,” while demonstrating their commitment to their internal and external community.

Share5Tweet3Share1
Cecilia Amador de San José

Cecilia Amador de San José

Cecilia is an experienced writer and editor with a background in strategic communications. She has written articles for Allwork.Space on several topics, including the future of work, flexible workspaces, employee wellness., and more.

Other Stories Recommended For You

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Closing Research Division, Cutting Workforce By 23%
News

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Closing Research Division, Cutting Workforce By 23%

byAllwork.Space News Team
9 hours ago

US EPA cutting workforce by 23%, closing research division

Read more
Amazon Smart-Home Staff Must Prove AI Use To Get Promoted

Amazon Smart-Home Staff Must Prove AI Use To Get Promoted

9 hours ago
Majority Of Fortune 100 Now Require Full-Time Office Return, New JLL Report Reveals

Majority Of Fortune 100 Now Require Full-Time Office Return, New JLL Report Reveals

9 hours ago
Trump Signs Order Creating ‘Schedule G’ To Make Firing Federal Policymakers Easier

Trump Signs Order Creating ‘Schedule G’ To Make Firing Federal Policymakers Easier

9 hours ago
Advertisements
Nexudus - Tech Stack Lovers
Advertisements
Nexudus - Tech Stack Lovers

Unlock your competitive edge in tomorrow's workplace.

Join a community of forward-thinking professionals who get exclusive access to the latest news, trends, and innovations that are shaping the future of work.

©2024 Allwork.Space News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Exploring the Future Of Work® since 2003.

Advertise   Newsletters   Privacy Policy   Terms Of Use   About Us   Contact   Submit a Press Release   Brand Pulse   Podcast   Events   

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Latest News
  • Topics
    • Business
    • Leadership
    • Work-life
    • Workforce
    • Career Growth
    • Design
    • Tech
    • Coworking
    • Marketing
    • CRE
  • Podcast
  • Events
  • About Us
  • Solutions
    • Advertise | Media Kit
    • Publish a Press Release
    • Brand Pulse
Subscribe

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
-
00:00
00:00

Queue

Update Required Flash plugin
-
00:00
00:00