“Atlassian Embraces Remote Work Amidst Corporate America’s Trends”
Atlassian, a U.S. software company known for its project management tools, introduced a distributed work policy called Team Anywhere in 2020. This initiative enables their 12,000 employees to work from any location where the company has a legal presence, as long as it aligns with their role, has approval from their team leader, and complies with regional work regulations. With this approach, employees are no longer restricted to Atlassian’s 12 global offices but can work from over 10,000 different locations worldwide.
Prior to the pandemic, Atlassian, whose tools are popular among remote workers, was already exploring non-traditional work setups. Avani Prabhakar, Atlassian’s chief people officer, explains that the company had been actively experimenting in this area, as it aligned well with their customer base. When COVID-19 struck, Atlassian fully committed to a distributed work model and has not looked back since. Prabhakar emphasizes that returning to a traditional office setting is not part of their plans.
During the transition to a distributed workforce, Atlassian prioritized data-driven strategies. They established Team Anywhere within their human resources department, which includes the Teamwork Lab, a team of behavioral scientists dedicated to enhancing work processes for clients and the company itself. Prabhakar outlines four key components of Atlassian’s remote-first approach: asynchronous communication, open document sharing, fostering connection through events like Intentional Together Gatherings, and being mindful of time zone differences to ensure effective collaboration.
Despite the success of their distributed work model, Atlassian recognizes that some employee demographics, such as early-career professionals, value in-person interactions. While the majority of employees appreciate the flexibility provided by the Team Anywhere policy, Prabhakar acknowledges the importance of considering diverse preferences within the workforce. Atlassian’s adoption of a remote work model has not only boosted employee satisfaction but also enhanced recruitment efforts, leading to significant growth in their workforce and increased acceptance rates for job offers.
The text states that it is important to ensure that your office is still appealing to Gen Z. While Atlassian’s Team Anywhere approach has been successful so far, it is emphasized that the company is still learning and does not have everything figured out. Prabhakar advises other companies considering new work models to stay involved in the process and not declare victory prematurely. He acknowledges that there are real challenges to overcome and cautions against assuming that they have found the perfect solution. Rather, he sees it as a continuous learning journey for all involved.
In addition to this, the article highlights some key aspects of the 2025 Best Companies to Work For, including an overview of the Fortune 100 list, Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s impressive parental leave policy, Cisco’s employee volunteer programs, and how top companies prioritize giving employees time to recharge. The article also discusses the significance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies in today’s business landscape.
This information is featured in the April/May 2025 issue of Fortune magazine.
