Atlassian May Carry the Remote-Work World on its Back, But It’s Also Pro-Office
As the world of corporate work undergoes a seismic shift, two defining outlooks have sparked a debate on the purpose of the office space. Just this year, we’ve seen a more significant return-to-work trend, with companies worldwide mandating their employees to return to the office in varying capacities. Those with the opposing viewpoint are pushing to abolish the office altogether and continue to let employees work remotely indefinitely. But what if there were a way in which remote work and office attendance could co-exist in a meaningful way for everyone? From my experience, there is.
Atlassian, one of the largest companies committed to remote work, has been a distributed work pioneer for nearly two decades. We look at distributed work as any work happening in more than one place, and we’ve taken a remote-first approach to running our day-to-day operations. As a result, we’ve seen increased success in employee flexibility and access to a more diverse talent pool. While we have no in-person mandates for employees - including our C-suit - Atlassian leadership still recognizes the importance of the office, as made evident by our recent decision to sign a five-year office lease in Seattle.
Why does a remote-first company still believe in the office? For Atlassian, it’s all about reimagining how we come together - and doing so with intention.
The future of work is now. How does the traditional office fit in?
The remote-work and in-office arguments each hold their own weight, but with the future of the office on our doorstep, the time to choose a path is now. However, neither viewpoint considers the opportunity to reimagine corporate work by focusing on the how versus where. Unsurprisingly, most companies already practice distributed work since the pandemic, even if they don’t define it that way. In-office mandates may only require employees to come in two to four days a week, allowing “flexibility” for the rest of the week. But to indeed have the best of both worlds, executives must understand that employees do not derive the benefits of a hybrid role from working outside of the office; instead, it’s having a choice that matters.
For my company, offices play a central role in connection, with 77% of our team members going into the office each quarter. The reason behind this is simple: our employees choose to do so. Through our Team Anywhere initiative, our office spaces are designed for global team members to connect, collaborate, and engage in meaningful work when needed. That means any employee, anywhere, can have a desk at any of our locations whenever they want to. Companies must approach their office spaces with a deliberate purpose, ensuring they remain an integral part of the work culture.
The power of coexistence
Remote work has proven to unleash the potential of every team. The notion that great work can only happen from an office has been dispelled, and we cannot unlearn this revelation. By mandating teams to return to the office, companies may pressure people to prioritize attendance over productivity. The truth
remains that both office and remote work can’t solve productivity. In fact, I have found the most significant barriers to employee productivity are derived from full days of back-to-back meetings, unclear processes and project goals, and outdated or lack of collaboration tools. If companies want their people to be productive, they must empower them to be productive. Leadership can resolve these problems by encouraging mindful meetings, setting and sharing measurable milestones, and investing in the right digital tools to facilitate full collaboration and communication. The beauty of these solutions is that they can be implemented from the office or home.
Embracing a remote-first environment allows people to make the smartest decision about where they do great work every day. I have heard that this flexibility has allowed my team members to start a family, be there for loved ones, and regain their physical and mental health. Coming together does matter for employees - but these gatherings must have a greater purpose. Atlassian's reimagined office concept focuses on creating hubs for team collaboration and gatherings, fostering intentional togetherness. We hold larger gatherings every few months at our hubs while still granting autonomy for individuals to choose where they want to work the rest of the time.
In the wake of the pandemic, remote work has undeniably proven its value, but that doesn’t mean the office should be left to collect dust. Companies have the ability to strike the right balance between each space through intention. By reshaping the workday to accelerate the work that matters most, teams can embrace connection through purpose, opting for in-person gatherings when needed while leveraging tools for better collaboration, whether in the office or not. The key lies in harmonizing remote work and in-person interactions to cultivate a culture where everyone thrives and every team reaches its full potential. As we envision the future of the office, it becomes evident that a distributed work model can offer the most promising path forward.
