Employees can apply to work anywhere – but there’s a catch
Facebook is giving all employees the freedom to choose their hybrid work arrangements, offering the full-time remote work option to everyone – regardless of their department and seniority. The policy only used to cover certain roles, especially those in the upper rungs of the organisation, but the update this week indicates more segments will be able to work from anywhere permanently.
“We believe how we work is more important than where we work,” Facebook said. “We want to be the place where people can do the best work of their careers while ensuring a consistent experience for employees no matter where they’re located.”
Read more: Love working from home? No problem!
From June 15, staff members can file a request to work off-site or even relocate to a new country. Those eager to cross borders can move from the US to Canada; or from the UK to any country within Europe, the Middle East or Africa, provided the transition supports their team strategy and the demands of their role. The company also said it would expand remote work opportunities to other international locations in the future, CNBC reported.
The catch? Anyone going fully remote and relocating will have their pay adjusted to the market rates in their new home base. This follows the idea earlier proposed by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who expects half of his workforce to continue WFH in the next five to 10 years. Those who move to cheaper locations may see significant changes in their earnings. “We’ll adjust salary to your location at that point,” Zuckerberg said. As for those who attempt to game the system by not disclosing their new location, there will be “severe ramifications,” he warned.
Read more: Why remote work isn't for everyone
There are limits to the new work-from-home policy. While Facebook is ensuring the change is inclusive, it is also mindful of employees who perform critical tasks on site. For these segments, the company is recommending they work in office for at least 50% of the time. By September, more teams will operate on site at a reduced capacity but the company will begin to offer a full return to the office a month after.
