Where is the office these days? Airbnb says: Wherever you call home

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It’s been more than two years since the pandemic swept across the globe, forcing most companies to work almost exclusively remotely. Now that vaccine and health mandates are playing their part in mitigating the virus, these same companies are faced with the question of how to proceed with work from this point forward.

Will you require employees to return to the office? Will they remain remote? Will you provide some sort of flexible hybrid solution?

One company has jumped into the fray by tackling this problem and has direct marketing with fantuan database publicly stated its solution. On April 28, Airbnb announced that it would allow employees to live and work from anywhere .

As an employee of Rock Content , a remote-first company, I wanted to weigh in on the topic from my own personal experience. But first, let’s understand what Airbnb’s new flexible policy is all about and look at some research on the topic.

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Airbnb's new flexible policy
Airbnb's new policy reflects the core values ​​that have guided its customers from the beginning: allowing a person to live or work from anywhere, providing the flexibility to travel anywhere in the world.

As Airbnb continues to plan regular meetups and social gatherings every quarter, they are putting an emphasis on prioritizing meaningful in-person meetings. Beyond the idea of ​​flexibility, they are also aiming for greater diversity within the company.

In a letter to employees, CEO Brian Chesky wrote:

“ If we limited our talent pool to a commuting radius around our offices, we would be at a significant disadvantage. The best people live everywhere, not concentrated in one area. And by hiring from a diverse set of communities, we will become a more diverse company .”

By combining the elements of providing flexibility to employees with its diversity initiative, Airbnb becomes one of the role models in the field of remote work.

The good, the bad and the art of discipline
The good : When it comes to the benefits of remote work, there are two key components that stand out above all others: time and flexibility.

Obviously, there is no manager or leader hovering over you to make sure the job gets done, just the belief and trust that it will be. In this bridge of trust and good faith from employers, employees become masters of their own schedule to fulfill their end of the bargain.

This level of trust and flexibility can give an employee a sense of power in his or her own ritual.

In fact, according to a report from the ADP Research Institute , 67% of workers say they feel more empowered to take advantage of flexible work arrangements at their companies, compared to just 26% before the pandemic.

From experience, if you have an activity outside of work, such as a doctor's appointment, your child's sporting event, or any activity that requires you to leave work at a specific time, you are more inclined to arrange your schedule in a way where you will still be doing the work that needs to be done.

This is the concept of balancing time and flexibility through a level of mutual trust.

The bad : There are also elements of remote work that struggle to live up to the same culture that an office workspace offers. You miss out on water cooler chatter. In-person interactions aren’t the same as Zoom calls or Slack messages .

The usual repertoire of conversations you have with coworkers and colleagues is starting to be missing. How do we alleviate this feeling?

Being more proactive in our communication, seeking out conversations with coworkers, whether business-related or just casual conversation. It may not carry the same weight as being face-to-face, but in an increasingly remote world it can ease the strain of loneliness.

The art of discipline : As creators of our own schedule with remote work, the best practice is to grow in discipline. It is easy to get distracted in the remote workspace, so there needs to be accountability measures in the daily routine.

On the other side of the coin, it can be exhausting to sit in a room with just a computer and four walls. It's important to set a schedule that balances work tasks with breaks, such as taking a breath of fresh air to optimize your day without feeling exhausted.

Flexibility is worth its weight in gold
As we dawn the new era of cyber work, flexibility is the new king.

According to a recent Slack survey , 72% of workers now prefer a flexible work model over returning to the office full-time. To add to the mix, 30% of respondents claimed they were more productive and engaged working from home.

People are starting to realize the true value that remote work brings to their lives. While some may long to return to the office, others are finding the optimal work-life balance by working from home.

Having the flexibility to step away from your desk and look after your child or go out and walk your dog, something that you couldn't do so casually from an office, is starting to take priority in people's routines.

This concept has gradually made its way into the top echelon of priorities, so much so that, according to the WFH Research Project , people value flexibility as much as a 10% pay raise.

It seems that time can be priced, and people are willing to pay.

Flexibility in Rock Content
In 2020, Rock Content transitioned from an office-based company to a remote organization, with hundreds of Rockers (as we call our coworkers!) working all over the world.

While this move was initially a product of the pandemic scenario, Rock Content's decision was based on the premise that the future of work is remote, with people “integrated globally.”

Rock Content employees are provided with all the structure they need to work remotely through a welcome package that, at first glance, already makes them feel like rock stars in a company that has been shaking up the world of content marketing!

Employees also receive a monthly remote work allowance and can decide their own working hours due to the company's flexible approach.

As a startup, with a collaborative and people-oriented culture, Rock Content is always open to evolving its practices and finding ways to engage employees from all over the world. Rockers have regular rituals to connect with each other and the entire team through virtual events and other channels like Slack, which really brings everything together.

Rocking the remote work culture
It's been six months since I started my remote work journey with Rock Content and, well... great!

I made the decision to donate my old corporate wardrobe and invest in more sustainable clothing. Clothing from brands that are actively working to promote environmental sustainability such as Patagonia, TenTree and Parks Project.

I feel like I'm contributing more to carbon neutrality by not having to drive during peak hours on weekdays. Most days, I now turn off all lights and power using devices in my home and opt to work outside in the sunshine.

For me, one of the best parts of Rock Content’s remote culture was the freedom it gave me to actively protect what I’m most passionate about, the outdoors .

You probably imagine that the trip from my home in Chattanooga to any of Rock's global offices would be a pretty long drive, and you'd be right!

But on the business communications side, Rock Content leaves no stone unturned. As digital as our network is, I’ve gotten to know people inside and outside my team. I’m constantly encouraged to seek knowledge and connect on a more intimate level.

In the act of internal networking with a global organization, exposure to cross-cultural learning is invaluable. Having colleagues and coworkers seemingly on-demand with a simple Slack message provides the largest first-hand encyclopedia one could ask for.

Despite the necessity of the pandemic, I believe the future is remote. In terms of environmental impact, diversity and inclusion, freedom and happiness, remote work has brought me satisfaction in all of these areas.

I hope that one day, others will see the benefits that employees and employers are experiencing, like those at Rock Content and Airbnb, and follow their path toward this new culture.