The era of remote work is still undergoing a reversal as more and more companies are mandating not only a partial return to the office, but a full 5-day “traditional” in-person work week in some cases.
Starbucks is one of the latest examples, and will begin enforcing its in-person work policy of three days per week starting Jan. 1, while others like Ericcson have also recently rolled out a “60%” in-office rule.
This strategic shift is not just about refilling empty office spaces, but reimagining the workplace to foster better collaboration, more impactful innovation, and a renewed sense of community among employees.
But just like the move from office to home was anything but smooth, the transition back to the office also comes with many complexities.
A recent report from FlexJobs found that 57 percent of remote workers surveyed said they would "absolutely" look for a new job if they were not allowed to continue working remotely. Pair that with the Oxford study that found a causal relationship between happy workers and a 13% increase in productivity, and it becomes obvious that something has to give—either allow employees to work remotely or find ways to make them happy when in the office.
It all comes down to the ultimate question, which work environment “works” best?
Redefining Employee Perks
Companies are now tasked with making the office even more appealing than before, and supportive for their employees’ new needs. Where a ping pong table, snack-filled kitchen, and nap pods may have been enticing pre-2020, getting employees back into the office might require different perks structured around personal time, kids, and much more.
Organizations are increasingly focusing on the holistic well-being of their employees. Childcare solutions, mental health support, and professional development opportunities are becoming key components of the benefits packages offered to attract and retain talent.
Introducing HQ Camps
One initiative in this evolving landscape is the introduction of "tech camps,” or specifically, HQ Camps from iD Tech where kids ages 7-17 get to learn from the best instructors, on the best corporate campuses in the world (and the same places their parents go to work each day).
Companies like Amazon and NVIDIA have pioneered this unique perk, hosting these week-long STEM programs within their offices—resulting in a number of employee and child benefits, and stellar reviews like this one:
"This was by far the best corporate benefit I have received in my 6+ years of Amazon tenure! I appreciate everyone who has made this happen throughout. This truly was the highlight of our summer and my Amazon days!"
HQ Camps not only offer an innovative solution to childcare but also serve as a benefit that enriches the family lives of employees. By integrating educational programs for children into the workplace, these companies are setting a new standard for work-life balance and inclusivity.
Moving forward, the return to the office is not a step back but a leap into a future where work is more flexible, inclusive, and supportive of personal growth and family life. The success of these initiatives will likely set a precedent for how companies across the globe approach the challenge of creating a workplace that is both productive and nurturing in today’s world.
Here are 5 game-changing benefits HQ Camps offer parents, organizations, and of course, kids.
5 Amazing Benefits of HQ Camps
1. Fit your child’s routine into your routine
We understand all too well the extra stress of getting the whole family from A to B, and it’s high time that companies took steps to mitigate that stress for parents.
Even if you have somewhere to send your child for a summer’s day, juggling childcare and work isn’t easy, leaving many families burned out by these conflicting responsibilities.
With HQ Camps, parents have the opportunity to bring their children with them to the office to enjoy a productive workday, while kids are guided by world-class STEM instructors.
HQ camps provide a simple, enriching solution that makes parents’ lives easier (and kids’ summers more fun) thanks to what used to be two separate daily routines that can now be combined into one.
2. Enrich kids’ summer with a one-of-a-kind STEM experience
Speaking of fun, the convenience of HQ Camps is matched only by how much your employees’ kids will love exploring STEM this summer.
But don’t take our word for it, this testimony from our HQ Camp hosted at NVIDIA speaks for itself:
“I love this opportunity because I get to bring my sons to the office and engage with them in a unique way. I get to see what they’re working on, and they get to see what my work entails. They were curious about what NVIDIA does, and they got to learn more about AI and machine learning through camp. The instructors are SO great working with kids because they’re knowledgeable and encouraged them to be able to do anything.”
For 25 years, we’ve perfected the art of crafting exciting, relevant, and personalized tech experiences for kids. And with HQ Camps, you eliminate an extra commute while your kids can enjoy the world-class STEM programming.
HQ Camps make it easier than ever for kids to unlock a world of possibilities and pathways in STEM. Happy kids make for happy parents, and - as mentioned above - happy parents make for more productive, focused employees.
3. Inspire your child where you work
HQ Camps do so much more than introduce kids to trendy tech: they inspire lifelong learning and innovation. And when you combine this long-term mindset with a professional setting, kids can truly envision a future for themselves in STEM and other exciting, tech-centered fields.
As one NVIDIA HQ Camp participant shared, “The course was fun and interesting, and the instructors were exciting and energetic. I also learned a lot this week about game design and coding, and I can't wait to apply these skills in the future."
There’s a reason we host our in-person programs at the world’s most prestigious college campuses as well as industry leader’s corporate offices: seeing is believing.
By learning in an environment that inspires careers, college study, and more, kids will be able to visualize a future internship and see how their new skills might translate to exciting opportunities. If your organization is looking for a pipeline of future talent, proactive recruitment can start close to home.
4. Spend unique quality time with your child
As we all have learned, quantity of time is not the same as quality time. Imagine being able to have lunch with your child at your office every day and what a difference that could make both for you and for your child.
As one Roblox HQ Camp Parent said, “Just an amazing and positive experience. So special that it was on site—I had lunch with my kiddo everyday."
In the hustle and bustle of a bust workweek, the chance to spend quality time with their kids during the day is a game-changer for many parents.
Especially as families transition to what feels like the 10th iteration of the “new normal,” the built-in structure HQ Camps offer creates wonderful opportunities for parents to connect with their kids.
5. Connect your work with your child’s interests
We’ve all been there: asking “How was your day?” and receiving shrugs and monosyllables from kids. With HQ Camps, that conversation gets a major makeover.
Parents at AWS HQ Camp have experienced this difference: “My 13-year-old said it was the "best camp he's ever been to in his life". Watched him at dinner in the evening looking up Java coding hacks in YouTube. He called me in the middle of day asking how to get AWS's GenAI capabilities to help him code. Amazing”
Now, instead of both parents and kids sitting in silence and ransacking a tired brain to remember what their previous 8 or 9 hours consisted of, HQ Camps kick start the family discussion and allow everyone to easily share and connect on what they each worked on throughout the day.
Discover this EPIC corporate perk this summer
All said, parents deserve a work/life balance that actually works for their families. This summer, experience a corporate perk unlike any other and enjoy the benefits of HQ Camps firsthand.
Together, we can redefine people-first, positive work culture and create life-changing STEM experiences for kids.
Learn more about HQ Camps and contact us to learn how to bring HQ Camps to your corporate campus.