Zenefitss new chief executive, David Sacks, last week banned alcohol in the office of the health-insurance brokerage startup as he tries to reverse its rambunctious culture, especially among sales staff.
But it wasnt just drinking booze that gave the San Francisco headquarters a frat-house feel.
Last June, Emily Agin, the companys director of real estate and workplace services, sent a note to San Francisco-based employees to cut out crude behavior, lest the company lose access to the buildings stairwells.
The email, reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, read in part:
It has been brought to our attention by building management and Security that the stairwells are being used inappropriately....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. Please respect building and company policy and use common sense...
In a series of memos to staff this month, Mr. Sacks said it is important to cultivate a more mature work atmosphere befitting a company in the highly regulated health-insurance industry. In a note to staff on Wednesday instituting a new alcohol policy, Mr. Sacks said it is too difficult to define and parse what is appropriate versus inappropriate drinking in the office.
