Airbnb says staffers can work remotely forever, if they want
3 min read
The company told employees on Thursday that they could work permanently from a distance and relocate anywhere in the country where they currently work. The company said that doing so would not have a negative impact on compensation, meaning that if an employee chooses to move to a city where the cost of living is lower, it will not adjust salaries further. Will
In a lengthy email to staff on Thursday, CEO and co-founder Brian Chesky outlined his new policies and expectations. He noted that permanent flexibility would allow the company to “hire and retain the best people in the world”, rather than those in the “traveling circle around our offices”. Airbnb said it has 6,000 employees worldwide, more than 3,000 in the United States.
Chesky asked staff to consult with managers before transferring expectations, adding that given the complexity of international moves, “we will not be able to support them this year.” He also noted that “very few roles will be required in the office or in a specific location to carry out your core employment responsibilities.”
“More and more people will start living abroad, others will travel throughout the summer, and some will even give up their leases and become digital nomads,” he said, calling them “decentralized housing”. He said
Now, Chesky is officially freeing staff to do so. He encouraged those who want to take advantage of the long stay in other countries.
“Starting September, you can live and work 90 days a year in any location in more than 170 countries,” he wrote. “Everyone will still need a permanent address for tax and payroll purposes, but we’re excited to give you that level of flexibility. Most companies with tax, payroll, and time zone availability. They don’t do that because of the mountain of complications, but I hope we can open source a solution so that other companies can offer the same flexibility. “
Chesky added that staff is responsible for sorting out work visas. They should also expect more private gatherings next year, “about a week every quarter.” In the United States, the company will operate largely on Pacific Standard Time.
“Flexibility only works when you trust your teammates,” Chesky said. “You’ve shown how much you can do remotely. In the last two years, we’ve navigated the epidemic, rebuilt the company from the ground up, made it public, upgraded our entire service, and made a record. Reported doing all this while working remotely. “
