In the competition for talent, we’re seeing that employers willing to evolve and redefine the idea of workplace are winning while those hesitant to reinvent are missing out on top talent. There’s no hard-written rule that says culture (or productivity for that matter) is confined to a 9-5 office space. Employees are trading the allure of office perks like kombucha on tap and catered lunch that were once the standard for workplaces in the Bay Area for the flexibility of hybrid or fully remote work. In a recent statement, Airbnb announced its plan to allow employees to live and work anywhere, with “meaningful in-person gatherings that will happen throughout the year.” Brian Chesky, CEO of Airbnb goes on to say, “the right solution should combine the best of the digital world and the best of the physical world. It should have the efficiency of Zoom, while providing the meaningful human connection that only happens when people come together.”

Companies like Salesforce and Maven Recruiting Group are also reimagining workplace. Salesforce recently unveiled Trailblazer Ranch, a 75-acre redwood plot in Scott’s Valley for employees to convene for on-boarding, training, engagement activities, etc. For our part, Maven Recruiting Group just hosted its first quarterly gathering at a horse ranch in the foothills of the Catalina Mountains in Tucson, the intended use of which is to provide opportunities for employees to spark with one another, build trust and collaboration, address training gaps, and connect meaningfully. If you’re requiring employees to be onsite five days a week, hiring is going to be a challenge for you, or you’re likely facing an exodus of talent. The priority of today’s workforce is flexibility with a balance of remote and in-person work.  Airbnb’s announcement typifies a trend we’ve been seeing for the last year which is the proliferation of “remote-first” companies.

Of course, there are the inevitable situations that require an executive assistant to be onsite: board meetings, VIPs or Limited Partners coming onsite, or a particularly hectic week where an executive would benefit from the immediacy of having their EA close. Our recommendation is to treat those instances as outliers and not the norm when thinking about the design of your work plan.