Heroes and Villains of Remote Work 2024
Happy 2025!
I know everyone is eager to dive into their 'New Year, New Me' resolutions, but before we leave 2024 behind, I think it’s only fair to spotlight the Hero companies that championed remote work in 2024 and the Villain companies that made headlines for forcing employees back to the office.
8 Heroes of Remote Work 🦸♂️
These companies didn’t just adapt to remote work - they have fully embraced it, paving the way for a more flexible future:
Continued to embrace flexible work policies, showcasing its commitment to remote work as a competitive advantage.
Deel has become a remote work champion in 2024, breaking barriers to global hiring and streamlining the onboarding and management of remote teams worldwide.
As one of the world’s largest all-remote organisations, GitHub continues to demonstrate its unwavering commitment to the all-remote model, proving that this approach also enhances scalability and organisational efficiency.
Maintained its “Work from Anywhere” policy, allowing employees to choose their ideal work setup, whether at home, in the office, or abroad.
A software company with nearly 30,000 employees, is letting its workers stay fully remote.
Glassdoor, transitioned into to a remote-first model by closing its last offices in the United States, located in San Francisco and Chicago. This strategic move reaffirms Glassdoor's commitment to embracing remote work as a permanent arrangement.
Created innovative remote-first roles within its operations, proving that even traditionally in-person industries can adapt.
The company has been entirely remote since 2005, and still standing firm on its remote work policy, it has helped prove that a remote workplace culture can succeed at scale.
8 Villains of Remote Work 🦹♀️
Sadly, not all companies embraced remote work in 2024. These companies made waves for pulling back on flexibility:
Zoom
Most probably the most ironic news of the year, despite being a leading provider of remote communication tools, Zoom has asked employees living near offices to return in person, highlighting a shift towards hybrid work.Amazon
Amazon sent shockwaves this year they told workers they will be expected to report to the office five days a week starting in January 2025, citing productivity concerns despite employee pushback.
Dell
In February 2024, Dell announced a new return-to-office policy, requiring most workers to be in the office three days per week and won't promote remote workers as part of their updated hybrid policy.
IBM
The technology firm is pushing for an end to remote work, telling US-based managers to immediately report in-person or exit their role, according to an internal memo from their senior vice president.Manchester United
As a Man Utd fan myself, it was hard to come to terms with them ordering their staff to return to the office permanently this year. It’s part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe cited how, at a different company owned by INEOS, they had noted reduced e-mail productivity from staff while working at home on Fridays.New South Wales (NSW) Government
The New South Wales (NSW) Government in Australia abolished remote work options, requiring all public sector employees to return to the office full-time, causing a spike in employee turnover and dissatisfaction.
Starbucks
Starbucks mandated corporate employees to return to the office at least three days a week, citing the need for collaboration and community, despite criticism from employees who valued remote flexibility.Meta
Meta rolled out a new policy requiring employees who are assigned to offices to spend at least three days a week in person. This decision came after years of flexibility, leading to frustration among some employees.
Sadly in 2024 we saw that the debate between remote work advocates and opponents is far from over. But the good news is, for every company pulling back, another is stepping up to embrace the freedom and flexibility that remote work offers.
At Remote Rebellion, we stand firmly in the corner of the heroes, believing all individuals should have the right to choose where, when and how they work best!
Wondering how you can switch from an office job to working from anywhere? Sign up for my FREE Masterclass on 15th January to get started!
Stay rebellious,
Michelle
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