Mike Cannon-Brookes, billionaire co-founder of Atlassian and an advocate of hybrid work, strongly criticizes mandatory work-from-home policies. He insists that decisions about flexible working arrangements should be made by individual businesses rather than imposed by government mandates or external rules.
Cannon-Brookes has been vocal about allowing employees to work from anywhere, emphasizing that flexibility increases productivity and employee satisfaction. He believes that trust between employers and employees is essential for successful flexible work environments.
He argues that strict work-from-home requirements are counterproductive and undermine business autonomy. Instead, companies should be empowered to determine what flexible working arrangements suit their operations and culture.
"Flexible work must be managed by businesses, not dictated by external mandates," Cannon-Brookes stated, highlighting the need for trust and customization in workplace policies.
Cannon-Brookes suggests that companies that lead in flexible work policies will set examples and create workplaces that attract talent and foster innovation. This approach respects business diversity and sector-specific needs, which one-size-fits-all policies often overlook.
"The future of work depends on businesses tailoring flexible arrangements to fit their unique contexts," he added.
Mike Cannon-Brookes emphasizes that flexible work policies should be tailored by businesses themselves, trusting employers and employees to create productive, satisfying work environments rather than relying on external rules.