2020
A sudden halt to relating
No. 052
DESCRIPTION◆
People had already arrived in Miami for Relate when the pandemic hit. The virus was brand new and times were freshly unprecedented. We made the painful call to cancel Relate—inadvertently becoming an early model of CSR around Covid.
ZENDESK VALUE: Community
2020
We put our digital foot forward
No. 053
DESCRIPTION◆
Since we were already evolving our use of office space (remember “neighborhoods”?), Zendesk was primed to shift to a digital-first working culture in 2020. “We hire adults,” Fidelma Butler has said. The quality of our work comes first.
ZENDESK VALUE: Inclusivity
2020
Employees talked; leaders listened
No. 054
DESCRIPTION◆
Multiple crises had hit. We felt an urgent need to support employees. We saw a dichotomy of leaders who want to solve and employees who want to feel heard. Empathy circles were born: safe spaces where people could talk and feel safe.
ZENDESK VALUE: Community
2020
It’s good being green
No. 055
DESCRIPTION◆
We worked with a sustainability firm to analyze our greenhouse emissions. In 2020 we hit our goal of powering our offices with 100% renewable energy. A year earlier than planned! WFH helped—and we doubled our investment in carbon offsets.
ZENDESK VALUE: Trust
2020
Together, alone, online
No. 056
DESCRIPTION◆
Our volunteering, core to what makes Zendesk great, was Tenderloin-focused, like serving meals. Then 2020 hit. With Living Room Live, employees taught classes by Zoom. Was there a better time that year than virtual karate with seniors?
ZENDESK VALUE: Community