To all in our community, Upwork is here to help
March 26, 2020 - In troubling and uncertain times like these, we find more meaning than ever in our company mission, which is to create economic opportunities so that people have better lives. It is through this lens that we are responding to the current COVID-19 crisis. I want to update everyone on the steps we are taking and the ways we can help both businesses and freelancers navigate the current challenges.
To ensure the safety of our team members as well as our business continuity, Upwork has moved from a hybrid to a fully remote model. We were built on a strong distributed team model, with the majority of our 1,700 team members already working remotely from their home offices in more than 800 cities before this crisis. Those who regularly work in one of our three corporate offices have shifted to working remotely as well.
We realize the rapid pivot to adopt fully remote work is jarring for many, and I want to assure everyone that you can do this. As people increasingly adapt their behavior to curb the spread of the virus, two big questions we are hearing from our customers are “How can my entire company work from home successfully?” and “How can I still get critical things done when my teams and usual business operations are so disrupted?”
Our entire team at Upwork is here to help, and I want to share some of the resources our clients have been finding useful as they navigate these uncharted waters:
As Upwork’s CEO, I’m also very aware that self-employed individuals and small-business entrepreneurs often face heightened risks in economic downturns. We appreciate that these professionals are doing the critical work of helping customers keep their businesses moving at a time when disruption and stress are very high. Upwork is committed to supporting independent professionals through this trying time, and we are working hard to ensure that clients know that their skills and talent may be exactly the thing they need to get through the current crisis. In particular we are working to:
Our team is working around the clock to develop new resources, and we will continue to share more as the situation evolves. In the meantime, our thoughts continue to be with our clients and community during this challenging time. Please stay safe, stay healthy, and stay connected—and let us know how we can help.
Sincerely,
Hayden Brown
Chief Executive Officer