Software giant Atlassian is bucking the return-to-office trend—and has new ways of evaluating its real estate

Summary

Software firm Atlassian has bucked the trend of return-to-office mandates with a "Team Anywhere" policy, and is embracing remote teams by acquiring video messaging service Loom. The company is nonetheless planning ambitious new offices, including in Seattle and Sydney, and is using new metrics when evaluating its real estate strategy. Hybrid work arrangements, which require employees to come to the office two or three days a week, are not favored by Atlassian's real estate and workplace experience chief, as they carry "all the costs of the old model" without "any efficiencies of the new model."

Q&As

AI Comments

👍 It is great to see a major software company bucking the trend of return-to-office mandates and embracing remote work. Atlassian's acquisition of video messaging service Loom is a great example of how the company is using innovative ways to promote collaboration and productivity.

👎 Atlassian's new metrics for evaluating their real estate strategy may not take into account the needs of some of their employees who would prefer to work in an office environment. Hybrid work arrangements may also create an illusion of choice and can be costly for companies without any real efficiencies.

AI Discussion

Me: It's about how software giant Atlassian is bucking the return-to-office trend and is rethinking the way it evaluates its real estate. They're now more focused on cost per visit and how employees engage with the office space. They're also investing in hybrid work arrangements, where employees come to the office two or three days a week.

Friend: That's really interesting. It seems like they're trying to balance giving employees more flexibility and freedom to work remotely, while still maintaining a physical office presence to foster collaboration.

Me: Yeah, it definitely seems like they're trying to strike a balance. It's a good way to make sure their employees feel supported and engaged, while also being mindful of their real estate costs. I think this could be a model that a lot of other companies follow.

Action items

• Research other companies that have adopted a “Team Anywhere” policy and evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of such a policy.
• Explore ways to evaluate office space differently, such as cost per visit and employee engagement.
• Consider the pros and cons of hybrid work arrangements and fully remote work when developing a workplace strategy.

Technical terms

Return-to-Office

A policy that requires employees to return to the physical office space.

Real Estate

Property, including land and buildings, owned by a person or business.

Team Anywhere

A policy adopted by Atlassian that allows employees to work from home, a cafe, or an office.

Market Cap

The total market value of a company's outstanding shares.

Top Talent

Highly skilled and experienced employees.

Collaboration Tools

Software that allows multiple users to work together on a project.

ROI

Return on Investment, a measure of the profitability of an investment.

Hybrid Work Arrangements

A work arrangement that requires employees to come to the office two or three days a week.

NIL Era

The National Collegiate Athletic Association's new rules allowing college athletes to be compensated for the use of their name, image, and likeness.

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