Airbnb CEO Says Companies Are “At A Disadvantage” If They Oppose Remote Work

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky recently made headlines after unveiling his company’s new hybrid work policy. Now he says that companies who forgo these arrangements could fall behind in the competition for talent.  

“The most talented people aren’t in San Francisco anymore … and they’re not here in New York,” said Chesky. “The most talented people are everywhere now — and if I need engineers, designers, product managers or marketers, they’re getting so distributed that if you limit your talent pool to community radius, you’re probably at a disadvantage.”  

The rental marketplace company revealed it would provide salaries for its Canada and US employees based on their roles, not their location.  

Several companies that have adopted hybrid or remote work policies have only done so with the caveat of cutting salaries for workers who move to a region with a lower cost of living, which has led to much backlash from employees. 

Not only is this “an outdated model,” Chesky points out that it is also an administrative headache that requires a full revamp of HR and pay structures. 

 “No one did what we did,” said Chesky. “We didn’t invent remote work, but almost no company offered this model.”

Starting in September, the firm’s 6,000 workers will have the opportunity to work from their choice of over 170 countries for three months each year.  

Despite not looking to any other companies to replicate the new policy, Chesky said he studied young tech startups that were embracing remote work way before the pandemic normalized this model.