Twitter workers’ return could make big difference for downtown SF businesses, expert says

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — Elon Musk issued a stark warning to Twitter workers to return to the workplace. Whether or not staff wish to come again or not, might make a giant distinction for native companies that rely on that foot site visitors.

At Twitter headquarters in Downtown San Francisco, is a retailer open to the general public. Chris Foley is the proprietor of The Market.

Pre-pandemic, Foley had 6,000 prospects a day. He mentioned 50% of them have been Twitter workers. Now, The Market solely sees 20% of their authentic customers.

He mentioned it has been a painful street to restoration. Foley has been in a position to get by with assist from federal aid cash and with help from his landlord.

MORE: Assembly audio reveals Musk informed Twitter workers both return to workplace or ‘resignation accepted’

As for the large Twitter layoffs final week…

“I do know a bunch of individuals from Twitter and it is brutal,” mentioned Foley. “The day Twitter bought purchased. There have been numerous tweeps down right here. And so they have been nervous about what is going on to occur.”

Now, there’s extra cause for some staff to be nervous.

Twitter CEO Elon Musk says all workers are anticipated to be within the workplace at the very least 40 hours per week. And any request to work remotely have to be personally authorised by him.

MORE: Twitter Blue, subscription granting ‘verification’ labels, unavailable after raft of faux accounts

“Do I feel that is fairly robust? Yea. Do I feel that individuals coming again to work is sweet? I do. However, I feel they need to have a transition again to work. Not be so brutal,” mentioned Foley.

Carlos Delal is a tech employee within the metropolis. He isn’t 100% behind retuning to the workplace.

“I do not essentially agree with that. However I do like that there are extra folks — or the thought of extra folks — returning to the world,” mentioned Delal.

Sean Randolf is the senior director of Bay Space Council Financial Institute.

MORE: Twitter’s chief info safety officer, head of integrity and security give up amid firm turmoil

“Downtown San Francisco wants folks coming again to the workplace,” mentioned Randolf.

In response to Randolf, the workplace occupancy fee proper now’s about 38% — given all our tech {and professional} providers staff working remotely.

“That is based mostly on key card swipes of individuals coming into workplaces. It doesn’t suggest they’re in all day, daily. It means they’re coming in at a while throughout the week. These are largely hybrid staff,” mentioned Randolf. “We have been slower at coming again to the town in San Francisco than nearly anyplace else within the nation.”

Randolf mentioned Musk bringing folks again to the workplace might change that.

“In case you have been in a position to carry the employees again to the workplace, that will be an enormous profit for Downtown San Francisco particularly. Whether or not he might truly pull that off is just a little exhausting to say as a result of tech staff have resisted for a very long time now. However then again, with so many layoffs occurring proper now, maybe there’s extra leverage on it,” mentioned Randolf.

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