Hello everyone and welcome to ZD Tech, ZDNet’s daily editorial podcast. My name is Guillaume Serries and today I explain to you how Airbnb is revolutionizing its HR policy.
Airbnb big boss Brian Chesky is a big believer in working from home. To the point of telling its employees that they can now work from home indefinitely. Or move anywhere in their country, without their salary being adjusted accordingly.
“That means you can move from San Francisco to Nashville, or from Paris to Lyon. You’ll have the flexibility to do what’s best for your life – whether it’s staying put, moving closer to family, or living somewhere you’ve always dreamed of,” says Brian Chesky.
Adapt your workplace
Yes, you heard right. The measure is therefore also intended to erase the problem of companies which allow their employees to work remotely on a permanent basis, but which also adjust their wages downwards if they move to an area where the cost of living is lower.
Of course, those who want to relocate will first need to discuss with their managers work expectations, time zones, and availability for Zoom meetings. But the fact remains that any reason for moving is valid.
In detail, from next June, Airbnb will put in place “single compensation levels” determined by country, both for salary and for participation in the capital of the company.
This is good news for some employees, who will see their compensation increase. But Airbnb did not specify the impact this measure would have on staff whose current salary is higher than the level that will be determined next June by Airbnb.
90 days to travel anywhere in the world
Airbnb staff will also be able to travel anywhere in the world for up to 90 days a year. But he must have a permanent address to pay taxes and domicile the salary.
So why is Airbnb doing this? Quite simply to attract and retain the best talent, says the CEO of the company.
“If we limited our talent pool to a radius of a few kilometers around our offices, we would be at a serious disadvantage. The best people live everywhere, they are not concentrated in one area. And by recruiting from a diverse set of communities, we will become a more diverse company,” Airbnb says.
But although this strategy is global, it mainly concerns the job market in the United States, affected by what is called the “great resignation”. A phenomenon that affects Europe less.
And how does Airbnb fund this human resource disruption? Well, thanks to the company’s recent record profits, which overcame the Covid crisis, and achieved an IPO in December 2020.