From Atlassian to Coinbase, these companies are committed to offering their employees the flexibility to work from anywhere, resisting the growing trend of returning to the office.
A common misconception about flexible work is that productivity occurs only in one environment, either at home or in the office. In reality, productivity varies by task, with focused work often suited for home and collaboration thriving in the office, according to Marissa Alley.
The mandates from Dell and Flight Centre illustrate a significant trend among major brands to restore traditional work practices, emphasising face-to-face interactions and in-person collaboration.
Amazon employees have long resisted office-return mandates. In 2023, corporate staff even staged a walkout to protest an earlier plan that required partial in-office attendance.
The gig economy, initially popular in lower-skilled sectors, is now reaching C-suite levels. Startups are increasingly hiring gig CFOs for flexible, specialized financial leadership without long-term commitment.
KPMG Australia CEO Andrew Yates believes the fully office-based workforce is a thing of the past, especially in consulting, where flexibility is key. KPMG has no plans to return to mandatory in-office work.
This shift comes as new research reveals that Australian employees are among the global leaders in maintaining remote work privileges, highlighting a growing divide in workplace practices between major international corporations and Australian work culture.