Remote work: Familiar, yet shifting historically
Working remotely and enjoying a nomadic life is nothing new. You already know that the global pandemic forcefully expedited the world into an involuntary transition into a remote workforce. But did you know that some of the mechanisms were already in place that made the transition possible, fueling corporate nomadism beyond what it ever could have been without the shock of the pandemic reaction?
Take for instance the short term vacation rental (STR) juggernaut, Airbnb. While the STR ecosystem is diverse and varied, with market options far older than Airbnb, the search site remains synonymous in most minds with STRs. Airbhb has been around for a decade and a half, and before the pandemic had already fought expensive legal battles in most major cities in America and across the globe, yet they remain the dominant force in their sector.
Airbnb’s extensive network combined with an existing (and increasing) American appetite for a more location-independent approach to work, simply needed a spark to light a gasoline-doused concept. The pandemic was not only the spark, but an atomic warhead. The remote work revolution is here, and with millions of people taste testing it, many find there is no going back.
Corporate Nomadism & How Airbnb is Fueling the Remote Work Revolution
Table of Contents
- Remote work: Familiar, yet shifting historically
- Airbnb backs up words with deeds
- Freedom and flexibility
- Living in a home away from home
- It’s all about the benjamins
- Intangibles to consider
- The takeaway
Airbnb backs up words with deeds
STRs have played a critical role in spurring remote work, but employers like Airbnb have actually walked the walk by allowing their employees to live and work from anywhere. “The business has actually never performed better since we moved to this program,” said Airbnb Chief Financial Officer Dave Stephenson. “It’s working really well for us.”
Stephenson tells NPR that it is also a driving force for their hiring and retention efforts. “The best talent in the world is not all within a 50-mile radius of San Francisco.”
Airbnb is a phenomenal example of a large company (with nearly 7,000 employees as of December 2022) that is not forcing employees to return to the office despite endless headlines that dramatically proclaim the death of remote work. Just within this one company, over a quarter of all employees live more than 50 miles away from a company office, with a whopping 20% relocating and/or traveling abroad.
But the short term vacation rental behemoth is simply taking advantage of market conditions that they themselves played a driving role in creating. How exactly have they (and frankly, their competitors) contributed to the remote work trend?
Freedom and flexibility
Anyone who has ever yearned for remote work didn’t feel that calling because they’re secretly a hobbit, no, they’ve gotten a taste of what real work-life balance feels like, absent a commute and endless in-person meetings that could have been emails.
They’ve tasted freedom.
Remote work has appealed to workers because on the way back from a quick restroom break, they can pet their dog and give him a treat. After a call, they can do some quick stretches without worrying about their appearance. When working on a creative project, they can use asynchronous collaborative tools that were perfected during the pandemic. Coming back from their lunch break, they can add yet another random drink to their desk collection of six drinks at a time – without judgment. They can keep the A/C at the temperature they prefer and wear what is most comfortable, wear headphones with loud music, and take a walk after work at the time they otherwise would have been commuting.
Employers that understand this are dominating the recruiting game.
STRs have tapped into that desire to live more freely than any generation in the past, allowing folks to choose their destination, be it a popular beach city or a peaceful countryside cottage. Remote workers can explore destinations and easily switch locations without the previous constraints of ownership or long-term leases.
There is tremendous power in a change of scenery. Imagine that feeling of relief it embodies, but on a grander scale. Picture a change of scenery every week or month. Sure, you’re still working from a laptop and not on a perpetual vacation, but opening your window to the cool seaside breeze is so powerful when you’re from a hot desert.
There is extensive freedom in the little things.
Living in a home away from home
Airbnb has also fueled the remote work explosion by understanding that hotels are beautiful, but somewhat monotonous and sterile. Sometimes humans just want to be at home in another location.
Remote workers that are living nomadically enjoy fully equipped kitchens where hosts have left random local treats, stable internet, an actual washer and dryer, a yard for the dogs, maybe a patio, and of course, views of something other than a highway or parking lot.
It’s easy to avoid being homesick when someone feels at home. Add in a daily routine of work, and it’s no wonder why one in four workers refuses to return to the office – they’ve learned over three years that not only can they work remotely with more productivity, but the company still succeeded with a remote workforce. Therefore, a huge portion of workers are willing to leave their current role in lieu of a permanently remote option. Like those offered at Airbnb…
It's all about the Benjamins
In many geographies, it is extremely expensive to live, and when a worker in the San Francisco bay area sees that they can get a discount for an extended stay at an Airbnb (let’s say a beautiful A-frame cabin in the woods in West Farmington) for nearly 20% of what they pay for their current monthly rent, curiosities are certainly piqued.
Short term vacation rentals no longer come with all of the risks they used to, given that it is now a mainstream option. If a worker hasn’t tried it, they know plenty of people who have, and it’s no longer some mysterious journey on a pioneer path never before taken.
Further, while some employers have offered passes at coworking spaces during the pandemic, others could win better talent by offering that same stipend amount towards STRs, given that the majority of rental hosts have adapted and offer dedicated workspaces with high speed internet, comfortable seating, and a high quality background for video meetings. Imagine how much talent would be fighting over working for your company if that same stipend was transitioned to an Airbnb stipend?
When people consider their current expenses inclusive of all bills, then compare that with what a nomadic life in short term rentals could be, the appeal becomes self-evident. Employers that understand this will have a more firm grasp on why their teams may financially benefit from not having to live in a tiny closet in Manhattan to be able to work in their downtown offices.
Intangibles to Consider
Whether your teams are not openly interested in returning to the office and you’re looking to avoid a mutiny, or you are simply forward-looking and see the competitive nature of appealing to permanently remote workers, there are some intangibles to consider, especially if you have never worked in a nomadic fashion.
One of the strongest drivers of the rising popularity of corporate nomadism that remains intangible is immersing oneself into local cultures. STRs allow your teams to experience global cultures more authentically in residential neighborhoods instead of tourist areas. Remote workers living this way have real opportunities to try local cuisines, interact with locals, and share experiences in a way that was once historically difficult.
Further, the nomadic community itself is a strong and vibrant community – take for example the Escapees RV Club, which offers the most comprehensive support network for the RV community. There are local meetups around the globe for remote workers to connect and foster those ties, enabling the workforce to share experiences, collaborate, and learn from each other.
Employers that see the value in team members who are perpetually looking to improve themselves through these avenues will see intangibles that appeal to the workforce, but also digest the strength of a candidate with this unique mindset.
The takeaway
By offering flexibility, dedicated workspaces, home-like amenities, cost-effectiveness, local experiences, and opportunities for community-building, short term vacation rentals are ground zero for the remote work revolution.
Remote workers can leverage these rentals to create a lifestyle that combines work, travel, and new experiences, making the most of the opportunities offered by not being in an office.
Employers that understand the value of this mindset and are ready to appeal to the remote workforce will easily win the talent battle in the long run.
