Australian software firm Atlassian has a long-standing reputation as one of the best tech companies to work at, offering a hybrid work model, generous remuneration and an inclusive, forward-thinking culture.
The company's Team Anywhere policy lets employees work from any locale that has an Atlassian office. Virtual meetings are the norm, rather than in-person, providing further flexibility for staffers to achieve better work/life balance, and deliver better results.
But Atlassian surprised some observers by attaching their name to a 39-storey building in the Sydney CBD. Situated next to the Harbour City's busiest transport hub, Central Station, rising 180 metres into the skyline, and designed with the environment in mind, Atlassian Tower is being co-financed with real estate investment firm Dexus.
The new tower hit its topping out milestone - reaching its full structural height - in July.
A natural question to ask would be why a company committed to offering their employees flexible working arrangements and rarely mandating in-person attendance is investing millions of dollars on a centrally located skyscraper.
With AI quickly reshaping SaaS it is an uncertain time for software firms. Atlassian has been no exception, slashing 1600 jobs in March, representing approximately 10 per cent of the company's global workforce. The North American region was the hardest hit, but close to 500 roles were eliminated in Australia.
CEO Mike Cannon-Brookes, who co-founded the company with university friend Scott Farquhar 24 years ago, said the money saved from staff wages and benefits will be redirected into AI investment and enterprise sales as the company navigates the changing landscape.
Despite the reduction in force and hybrid work culture, there are still multiple reasons why a prominent software firm would covet a brand new headquarters in a prime location.
As well as investing in a cutting-edge building in Australia's most populous city, the tower will be a valuable recruitment tool and reinforce the organisation's identity and reputation, according to Professor Christian Criado-Perez Chanin, Senior Lecturer at UNSW Business School.
"On the surface, it could seem like a contradiction if we think of the office in the traditional sense," Chanin said.
"But I think it's Atlassian doubling down on their philosophy, and really doubling down on a new concept of what the office really is.
"It's a brand asset. It's about the attraction of talent. It's also aligned with their identity. So, I see it more as a statement that they're making in parallel to it being a property investment."
In an interview with the Australian Financial Review, Cannon-Brookes explained the move into their new headquarters would not precipitate a material change in the company's hybrid work philosophy.
It's a working model that has long proved very beneficial for Atlassian. For many tech companies, the culture is seen as aspirational and Atlassian are perceived as leaders in empowering their employees with the autonomy and flexibility that allows them to produce their best work over the long term.
Across the technology industry more broadly, even before Covid-19 struck the world in late 2019 and triggered worldwide lockdowns, hybrid work has been accepted for some time.
Design software business Canva has also been lauded for its flexible culture, allowing some staffers to work fully remotely, depending on their specific role and seniority within the business.
Parents of young children are a demographic that usually benefit from reduced in-person commitments, as well as caregivers, employees living outside of major urban areas and people with sensory issues.
Empowering staffers with autonomy is important, but some guardrails must be in place to stop employees from getting too comfortable, said Professor Nate Zettna, Lecturer in the School of Work and Organisational Studies at Sydney University.
"What we don't want is for people to assume full rein freedom, because sometimes you can mistake autonomy for freedom, and doing anything, however you want," Zettna said.
The tech industry is generally suited to remote work due to the lack of customer interactions, which is why a lot of organisations are leaning into hybrid or fully remote models. Apps such as Microsoft Teams and Slack help bridge the gap when employees need to collaborate.
Some companies, however, still mandate a certain number of days employees are required to be in the office.
These policies can help foster better team culture and boost morale but rather than being punitive, they must be designed properly to be effective, Zettna explained.
"If a company says, 'Please come in two days a week, it can be any day,' then what's the point unless you want to come in to have meetings in person or to form that social connection?" he said.
"We know that remote working and hybrid work, when not designed well, people can usually feel social isolation. So, how do we then nurture people when they do come into the office and make it purposeful for them?"