When new employees join Patagonia, they’re handed a copy of “Let My People Go Surfing.”
In the book, Chouinard declares that treating employees well is a key corporate responsibility.
“We needed to blur that distinction between work and play and family.”
It has also started to respond to customers' demand for delivery at Amazon speed.
Patagonia isa billion-dollar companywith more than 70 stores worldwide.
Patagonia’s commitment to do good is integral to the brand.
Over the years it has donated the equivalent of $226 million to environmental causes.
Patagonia’s sales soared during the pandemic.
A Patagonia spokesperson told BI that it uses less air freight now than it did before the pandemic.
The Patagonia spokesperson said it had been tricky to navigate the demand for instant gratification.
Why can’t Patagonia?'"
Workers said Chouinard, now 86, was typically one to challenge decisions thatprioritized profitover sustainability.
He kicked a tire and asked one rep: “Why do you have this huge truck?
That’s not what we’re about.”
At about this time, Patagonia began reassessing its operations.
They also hired consultants to help restructure the company, the spokesperson added.
Financial stability, he said, was crucial for Patagonia to honor its commitments.
In the past few years, it has tried to rein in costs and streamline business operations.
The following year, Patagonia adjusted a three-year-old policy of closing for the last week of December.
“And now we get dinged for having long phone calls.”
Eventually, though, the company began cutting jobs.
Only four chose to relocate, according to an internal memo seen by BI.
Three months later, Patagonia announced that41 corporate staffers had been let go.
Several people said the 72-hour deadline for CX employees was insufficient to make such a major life decision.
But they said the brand was not living up to the standards with which it markets itself.
“Pay is really only one of the reasons for organizing,” Helmreich said.
Patagonia said it takes employees' concerns seriously.
It was 1985, not 2001.
It was nine of 15 able to vote; the store has had about 25 workers.
