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TECH STARTUPS ARE known for their flexible culture, which often involves drinking and partying at the office.
But Zenefits, the troubled $4.5 billion startup that recently lost its founder CEO Parker Conrad, may have taken the startup vibe a little too far.
According to a report by the WSJ’s Rolfe Winkler, the company had to ban office sex after used condoms were found in the stairwells, telling its employees in a company-wide email in June to tone down their lewd behavior.
“Cigarettes, plastic cups filled with beer, and several used condoms were found in the stairwell. Yes, you read that right. Do not use the stairwells to smoke, drink, eat, or have sex,” the email said.
Zenefits is an HR software maker that raised more than $500 million at a $4.5 billion valuation. But it has recently been facing a lot of controversy, including missed revenue targets, regulatory violations, and a rambunctious, frat-like office culture.
Earlier this month, Conrad suddenly stepped down from his CEO position after it was found that Zenefits violated some compliance measures. He was replaced by COO David Sacks, a veteran tech entrepreneur who founded Yammer and who is moving quickly to fix Zenefits’ culture and its tarnished image.
Last week, Business Insider reported that Zenefits banned drinking alcohol at the office, in a move to clean up its corporate culture.
A Zenefits spokesperson sent Business Insider the following comment: “As Zenefits’ new CEO has made clear, it is time to turn the page at Zenefits and embrace a new set of corporate values and culture. Zenefits is now focused on developing business practices that will ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements, and making certain that the company operates with integrity as its number-one value.”
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How come a multi billion dollar company worth 3 times more than Aer Lingus is called a startup?
We in the middle of another dotcom bubble where companies are valued more on what they might produce rather than what they have actually produced. It’s one massive gamble.
Because they have employees riding in the stairwell.
company started up three years
Have to wonder were the ‘participants’ in a relationship or just friends with Zenefits?
Thank you and goodnight.
It must have been love, but I’m sober now…..
Wouldn’t you think they would clean up after themselves animals.. .
It could have been a nerdy intern having a hair of the dog and then fancied a posh w a n k !
FFS. It’s a business not a college campus.
Any jobs goin
Blow and hand by the sounds of things.
Jaysus it’s amazing what passes for news these days
Can I work there? Sounds great, drink, shag and get paid for it! Happy days.
Come on. They can’t even bin the condoms?
Zenefits has just been declared one of the top 3 best places the work, the staff benefits Programme is second to none except for Stratton Oakmont which had slight higher staff participation schemes
“Was that wrong? Should I have not done that? I tell you, I gotta plead ignorance on this thing because if anyone had said anything to me at all when I first started here that that sort of thing was frowned upon, you know, ‘cause I’ve worked in a lot of offices and I tell you people do that all the time.”
Sex at work gets boring after awhile. I’m only thinking out loud of course.
I agree. I go to work to have a break from having sex.
It’s only boring because your on your own.
That might be how you make it to the top, let the boss bang you?
Not even gonna bother turning up for my interview tomorrow…
Friends with Zenefits
My dream job and when I’m home I still keep dreaming about it
Nothing like a bit of reverse thrust
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