This file photo taken Oct. 17, 2022, shows an office building of Kakao Corp. in Pangyo, just south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jan. 13 (Korea Bizwire) — Employees at Kakao Corp., the operator of South Korea’s largest messenger app KakaoTalk, are joining the labor union to protest the company’s recent announcement that all employees should come to the office for work, instead of working from home.
The members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Kakao Branch (Crew Union) is approaching 50 percent of headquarters staff at Kakao, which is a requirement to become a bargaining representative labor union, industry sources said.
The admission rate of the Crew Union, established in March 2020, was no higher than 40 percent as recently as a month ago.
Following Kakao’s call on all staff to return to office, however, the admission rate has surged by close to 10 percent.
Industry watchers argue that the surge reflects the frustration among staff as the company decided to introduce a full work-at-office policy as early as March.
Kakao expressed concern, however, saying that the decision was made based on negotiations with the labor union and employees.
The company said that in any situation where working from home is more effective, the head of each working unit may decide to allow employees to work from home.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
