Upwork:Culture
Return to: Upwork
Upwork's mission is to create economic opportunities so people have better lives[1]. This is particularly true, considering Upwork has been a haven for talent during layoffs. Upwork was one of the beneficiaries during the pandemic, as evidenced by its financial performance. In 2021, its revenue grew by 34.57% year-over-year, the highest since the company went public[2]. Also, Upwork has been championing economic opportunities for workers. For instance, in April 2022, Upwork launched a brand campaign titled "Motherhood Works"[3]. The campaign aims to encourage employers to hire back mothers who left their jobs during the pandemic. The company also partnered with International Organization for Migration (IOM) in July 2022 to train displaced Ukraine job seekers on how to get hired in Upwork[4].
The company's work model is remote first. This is made possible by the fact that about 73% of its workforce are independent professionals. Upwork's independent talent makes up its Hybrid Workforce Program (HWS). Unlike most companies that treat their freelance workforce as second-class employees, Upwork considers them part of the team. For instance, each month, Upwork organizes a team meeting that both the employees and HWS members attend. Nevertheless, its CEO Hayden Brown has weekly meetings with the team[5].
Upwork's culture is centered on a cultural framework: "People first, business next, opportunity is third." Hayden Brown is in charge of championing this framework. It entails having a close relationship with the company's workforce, clients, and freelancers. This cultural framework involves many things, including caring for employees' welfare[6]. For instance, an employee or independent professional joining the company is assigned an onboarding buddy to assist him in adapting quickly to the work environment[5].
Upwork champions diversity and inclusivity. In 2020, it was at the forefront of advocating for Black Lives Matter[7]. It also has a department dedicated to fostering diversity and inclusivity in the company, which Erin L. Thomas leads[8].
The company also encourages professional growth. Unlike some companies that rarely motivate their employees to keep learning, Upwork has a career development budget. It also has courses tailored to each employee's individual needs[9].
When it comes to real-life experience at Upwork, 143 employees give it a B rating at Comparably. The cultural things that rank most include outlook, happiness, and environment[10]. This rating is relatively good, especially since the company doesn't have many employees.
Ratings
| Agency | Culture Rating | Work-Life Balance rating | Pay and Benefits rating | Job security and advancement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indeed.com[11] | 3.8 | 4.3 | 3.6 | 3.5 |
| Glassdoor[12] | 3.8 | 4.1 | 3.4 |
References
- ↑ https://www.upwork.com/about#:~:text=Our%20mission%20to%20create%20economic,here%20to%20accomplish%20incredible%20things
- ↑ https://investors.upwork.com/static-files/881b56ef-812d-456d-89e5-98eef866460e
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvAJqiICfIA
- ↑ https://rovienna.iom.int/news/new-partnership-bring-remote-work-opportunities-displaced-ukrainians
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 https://www.upwork.com/resources/end-of-corporate-culture
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IIwXfzWLHg
- ↑ https://www.upwork.com/resources/why-ceo-black-lives-matter-communications-are-critical-dibs-leader-perspective
- ↑ https://www.upwork.com/press/releases/erin-thomas-upwork-head-of-diversity-inclusion-and-belonging
- ↑ https://www.upwork.com/press/releases/erin-thomas-upwork-head-of-diversity-inclusion-and-belonging
- ↑ https://www.comparably.com/companies/upwork/culture
- ↑ https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Upwork/reviews?fcountry=ALL&ftopic=culture
- ↑ https://www.glassdoor.com/FAQ/Upwork-Question-FAQ200088-E993959.htm