Working remotely has become a smooth process these days, with tech like web conferencing seamlessly bridging the gap between the home and office. There are lots of great perks too – you might even live longer if you work from home. If you’re looking for a remote job, be it fully working from home or hybrid, it’s good to know which ones allow it before you send in your application. Here are a few companies that allow you to work remotely from home, as well as a few that don’t.
Companies That Let You Work Remotely From Home
In June 2021, Facebook announced that the remote working policy that was deemed necessary during the pandemic had proved a success, and that employees were free to work from home forever, provided that their roles were compatible with this approach. Anyone who decides that they want to work in person needs to commit to being in the office at least half of the time. Those that do decide to head to the office HQ in Menlo Park will find it worth their while, with access to a barbershop, arcade, valet parking, dry cleaning, and more. But if you don’t want to make the commute, then hey, Facebook is cool with that too. If you do opt to join Facebook and work remotely, you won’t be the only one. Mark Zuckerberg has pledged to work remotely six months of the year.
Microsoft
Microsoft is a huge champion of hybrid work, and for good reason. It sells a suite of software designed to facilitate communication between remote workers, notably the Microsoft Teams web conferencing platform, which has bridged the gap between home and office for many workers globally. If you’re looking to join the tech giant though, make sure to ask if you’ll be allowed to work from home remotely. The company does allow it, but those who want to do it more than 50% of the time must have the request signed off by their manager. Make sure you’ve got it in writing before you sign that contract. In addition, employees are also allowed to move anywhere within the country that they live in, with no negative impact on salary. This isn’t the case with all companies. For example, last year Google implemented a calculator that worked out how much their salary would be affected depending on where they were located. You don’t even need to stick to your own country — the remote working policy allows staff to work from over 170 counties for up to 90 days a year. Even Airbnb’s CEO is ditching the office, using the company’s properties as temporary base.
Slack
Messaging platform Slack was ahead of the curve, announcing that employees could work from home permanently way back in June 2020, when the pandemic was only a few months in. The company also stated that it would look to increasingly hire remote workers going forward — great news for all you non-commuters out there. CEO Stewart Butterfield recently confirmed that the company had hired “thousands of people who are in locations where we don’t have an office at all.”
ZenDesk
Zendesk claims to be one of the first companies to pivot to a full remote workforce during the pandemic. Initially the company had planned for employees to return to the office two days a week, but after listening to staff, Zendesk announced that it was becoming a ‘digital first’ company in June 2022, with emphasis on allowing staff to be fully remote if they choose. The benefits are compelling too. Staff are reimbursed for home office equipment and internet, have access to shared office facilities should they need it, such as WeWork, and also get an additional day a month off as part of ‘Recharge Fridays'.
Dropbox
Dropbox has adopted what it calls a ‘virtual first’ approach to work. Remote working is the norm at the company, though there are opportunities for face to face meetings with teams should they be required. The company made the move way back in October 2020, and even has it’s own virtual first toolkit for anyone seeking answers on how the company handles remote working.
Uber
The nature of Uber’s business model means that the vast majority of those that work for the company simply won’t be able to work remotely (not until we’ve cracked self-driving cars, that is). However, those that have desk-based roles at the firm are free to work remotely half of the time. The company states that it still believes in in-person collaboration, so those looking for a fully remote position are likely to be disappointed. However, those that are happy to work in the office half the time might appreciate the company’s hybrid policy, where employees can choose to work in the office five days one week, and then none the next.
Toast
Point of sale provider Toast has a generous work from home policy – the company even pays your Wi-Fi costs if you choose to work remotely. The benefits don’t stop there, the company also offers sabbaticals and unlimited vacation, depending on the position. President of Salesforce, Brent Hyder, said that the traditional nine to five was “dead” and that the employee experience was more than “ping pong and snacks.”
Zoom
If anyone could make a remote work policy actually work, you’d think it would be web conferencing platform Zoom. The pandemic boosted the company into the stratosphere, when suddenly it had the one thing everyone wanted. In January 2022, the company announced that going forward, employees would be free to work fully remote, hybrid, or in the office.
Hotjar
Unlike many of the companies on this list, web analytics company Hotjar didn’t jump on the remote working train during the pandemic – it had actually always operated as a fully remote employer. The company has in-person events twice a year. The company states that hours aren’t monitored, and that staff are trusted to work manage their own workloads, although it does recommend that everyone is around during ‘core hours’, 2pm to 5pm CET.
The social media platform was quick to set its remote working policy in stone, just six months into the pandemic. Essentially, the company is happy for you to work from anywhere, at home, in the office, or anywhere in between.
Intuit
Intuit is another firm which found its pivot to remote working accelerated by the pandemic. In an internal survey, the company discovered that 90% of its staff appreciated not having to commute, and just 6% wanted to be in the office full time. Because of this, it developed a flexible remote work policy that has stayed in place, post pandemic.
Skillshare
Skillshare a very generous remote work policy. Not only do you get to work from the comfort of your own home, the company will also pay for your internet, and you can also be reimbursed for your tea/coffee spend (up to $25 per month). Skillshare employees also have unlimited vacation time, and if you have a day where you crave the office environment, Skillshare gives its workers budget to work at a shared office with Industrious Co-Working.
Shopify
Shopify is very open to remote workers – in fact it actively encourages them. On the companies recruiting page it makes clear that it promotes flexible working for the mental wellbeing of its employees. In addition, Shopify is happy for staff to work abroad for 90 days of the year, as part of its Destination90 program.
Revolut
Fintech company Revolut revealed in early 2021 that it was moving to a permanent remote working set up. In addition, the firm is happy for staff to work abroad, 60 days a year.
Spotify
It must have been music to employees’ ears when Spotify told its 6,000+ strong workforce that they were free to work from home or in the office should they choose. The choice is really up to the individual. The company stated that it was looking to maintain the “perfect balance of flexibility, employment security, and job fulfilment.”
Companies That Won’t Let You Work Remotely From Home
Before you get too cozy in your pajamas, beware. There are some companies that aren’t too keen on the idea of employees working from home. If you want a remote job, you’re going to want to avoid these.
Twitter was one of the first major tech companies to give the thumbs up to working from home during the pandemic. Staff could work wherever they felt “most productive and creative.” All that changed recently when Elon Musk purchased the company. Not only did he fire half the company in his first week – those that were left were told to return to the office. Musk is very vocal on his distaste for remote working, so if you want to work from home, steer well clear of any company that he is attached to.
Tesla
It’s Musk again. If you’ve ever thought of becoming part of Elon’s empire, then you might need to get your shoes on and leave the house. Musk has fiercely fought against the hybrid working trend, to the point where he demanded that Tesla staff who want to work remotely must be in the office at least 40 hours per week. Those that didn’t were told to depart Tesla. In fact, back in July the company began tracking staff attendance, with those that don’t turn up receiving automated emails shaming them.
Apple
In stark contract with rival Microsoft, Apple has been feuding with its staff publicly in 2022, trying to get them back into the office. It has had several false starts and is currently demanding that Apple employees return to the office for a mandatory three days a week. However, the employees aren’t onboard. Forming a group named Apple Together, they have campaigned for more flexible working arrangements and been very vocal in its criticism of management. It looks like Apple CEO Tim Cook has a fight on his hands, but if you’re committed to being fully remote, we’d suggest waiting this one out before you submit your resume to Apple.
Unlike Apple and Tesla, Google might let you work from home, but you’d be the exception. Much like Apple, the company has struggled to get its staff back to the office. Having previously mandated a three-day office week, which fell flat, the company relented slightly and softened its stance. Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced that the company would allow 20% of its workforce to be fully remote, with 60% in the office a “few days a week,” and the other 20% working in new locations. So technically yes, your new Google job might allow you to work from home, but you’ll be one of the lucky ones. There might also be fewer Google jobs around in the near future, with the company issuing cuts and tightening the purse strings.
Snap
Much like Twitter, Snap used to have a very generous remote working policy. In fact, it was one of the companies that embraced this new style of working early in the pandemic. However, those days appear to be over now, with CEO Evan Spiegel telling staff that from February 2023, they need to be in the office 80% of the time. If you want to work remotely, don’t apply to Snap. If you currently work there, start looking around. Discipline – With no eyes on you at home, compared to being in an office, you do need to make sure you can work without being distracted. If possible, try to find a space where you can focus and, most importantly, resist that TV remote. One good tip is to dress as if you were going into the office — it helps put you in a better frame of mind than your old pajamas do. Collaboration – You might think that teamwork is tricky when working remotely, but there are so many tools at your disposal to help aid collaboration. Web conferencing is a key one — tools like Microsoft Teams and Zoom allow you to catch up with your team, no matter where you are. Virtual meetings are a slightly different beast to real life ones — read our web conferencing tips to get the most out of your next call. Security – Offices are very secure environments, locked down by IT departments. This isn’t always the case for those working from home, and the rise in remote working has also seen a rise in cyberattacks. We suggest enlisting the help of a password manager to help keep track of all your passwords securely. A good VPN is also essential if you’re going to be working out of a cafe and using public Wi-Fi. Working hours – Don’t feel guilty about taking regular breaks. Getting up and stretching your legs for 10 minutes can have great regenerative effects. Remember also to set a time to log off. With a nonexistent commute and your work always at your fingertips, you might be tempted to work later. Try and resist blurring the line between your work and personal life with a clear set work pattern, and let coworkers know when you’ll be signing off for the day.
