With the worst of the pandemic behind us, and life getting back to normal, there is still one huge overhang that refuses to go away — remote working. What started as a necessity has now become standard, at least for many companies.
Working remotely has become a smooth process these days, with tech like web conferencing seamlessly bridging the gap between the home and office. There are lots of great perks too – you might even live longer if you work from home (no, seriously).
If you’re looking for a remote job, be it fully working from home or hybrid, it’s good to know which ones allow it before you send in your application. Here are a few companies that allow you to work remotely from home, the industries and roles most likely to remote-job friendly, and how to work from home productively.
In this guide:
- Companies That Let You Work Remotely From Home
- Companies That Won’t Let You Work Remotely From Home
- Top Remote Jobs and Industries
- Is Working From Home Right for Me?
Companies That Let You Work Remote Jobs From Home
There are lots of companies that offer remote jobs in 2024, from large multinational corporations to small firms. These include:
- Microsoft
- AirBnB
- Disney
- Slack
- Spotify
- Dropbox
- Uber
1. Microsoft
Microsoft is a huge champion of hybrid work, and for good reason. It sells a suite of software designed to facilitate communication between remote workers, notably the Microsoft Teams web conferencing platform, which has bridged the gap between home and office for many workers globally.
If you’re looking to join the tech giant though, make sure to ask if you’ll be allowed to work from home remotely. The company does allow it, but those who want to do it more than 50% of the time must have the request signed off by their manager. Make sure you’ve got it in writing before you sign that contract.
2. Airbnb
It tracks that Airbnb, a company that specializes in traveling and vacations, would let its staff work remotely. You don’t even need to be at home. As of April 2022, the company announced that employees were free to work from home (or the office, if they chose), permanently.
In addition, employees are also allowed to move anywhere within the country that they live in, with no negative impact on salary. This isn’t the case with all companies. For example, last year Google implemented a calculator that worked out how much their salary would be affected depending on where they were located.
You don’t even need to stick to your own country — the remote working policy allows staff to work from over 170 counties for up to 90 days a year.
Even Airbnb’s CEO is ditching the office, using the company’s properties as temporary base.
3. Slack
Messaging platform Slack was ahead of the curve, announcing that employees could work from home permanently way back in June 2020, when the pandemic was only a few months in.
The company also stated that it would look to increasingly hire remote workers going forward — great news for all you non-commuters out there. CEO Stewart Butterfield recently confirmed that the company had hired “thousands of people who are in locations where we don’t have an office at all.”
4. ZenDesk
Zendesk claims to be one of the first companies to pivot to a full remote workforce during the pandemic.
Initially the company had planned for employees to return to the office two days a week, but after listening to staff, Zendesk announced that it was becoming a ‘digital first’ company in June 2022, with emphasis on allowing staff to be fully remote if they choose.
The benefits are compelling too. Staff are reimbursed for home office equipment and internet, have access to shared office facilities should they need it, such as WeWork, and also get an additional day a month off as part of ‘Recharge Fridays’.
5. Remote
It’s probably a no-brainer that if you call your company Remote, you’re going to let your staff work remotely. As it turns out, this is actually the case for this talent company that helps companies employ staff globally, as well as providing other associated services, such as payroll software. Not only that, but the company also offers unlimited PTO as a perk.
6. Dropbox
Dropbox has adopted what it calls a ‘virtual first’ approach to work. Remote working is the norm at the company, though there are opportunities for face to face meetings with teams should they be required.
The company made the move way back in October 2020, and even has it’s own virtual first toolkit for anyone seeking answers on how the company handles remote working.
7. Uber
The nature of Uber’s business model means that the vast majority of those that work for the company simply won’t be able to work remotely (not until we’ve cracked self-driving cars, that is). However, those that have desk-based roles at the firm are free to work remotely half of the time.
The company states that it still believes in in-person collaboration, so those looking for a fully remote position are likely to be disappointed. However, those that are happy to work in the office half the time might appreciate the company’s hybrid policy, where employees can choose to work in the office five days one week, and then none the next.
8. Disney
If you want to work for the house of mouse, choose your role carefully. Yes, the company does have fully remote positions, but it’s certainly not the norm throughout the company. In fact, on the 9th of January, CEO Bob Iger told staff that they would need to be in the office four days a week going forward. So, before you sign on the dotted line, make sure that the role you’re applying for is actually remote, without caveats.
9. Quora
If you’ve ever Googled a question, chances are you’ve come across Quora, a Q&A platform. And if you ask it ‘can I work from home?’ the answer will be a resounding yes. The company offers many fully remote roles, from product designer to community manager.
10. Toast
Point of sale provider Toast has a generous work from home policy – the company even pays your Wi-Fi costs if you choose to work remotely. The benefits don’t stop there, the company also offers sabbaticals and unlimited vacation, depending on the position.
11. Buffer
Buffer is a social media management platform, which has been fully remote since 2012. As well as allowing staff to work from anywhere, the company also gives individuals an allowance for co-working spaces, and even covers the cost of your coffee if you choose to work out of a cafe
12. FlexJobs
FlexJobs is an organization that helps workers find remote roles, so it makes sense that it practices what it preaches, with the company operating remotely since its inception in 2007. In addition, FlexJobs also has an open holiday policy, and offers employees a stipend for office furniture, tech, snacks and co-working spaces.
13. Poll Everywhere
Poll Everywhere is yet another company that went fully remote during the pandemic, and found it such a success that they have continued with it to this day.
Not only that, but the company has also been experimenting with four day weeks.
14. Hotjar
Unlike many of the companies on this list, web analytics company Hotjar didn’t jump on the remote working train during the pandemic – it had actually always operated as a fully remote employer. The company has in-person events twice a year.
The company states that hours aren’t monitored, and that staff are trusted to work manage their own workloads, although it does recommend that everyone is around during ‘core hours’, 2pm to 5pm CET.
15. Reddit
The social media platform was quick to set its remote working policy in stone, just six months into the pandemic. Essentially, the company is happy for you to work from anywhere, at home, in the office, or anywhere in between.
16. Intuit
Intuit is another firm which found its pivot to remote working accelerated by the pandemic. In an internal survey, the company discovered that 90% of its staff appreciated not having to commute, and just 6% wanted to be in the office full time. Because of this, it developed a flexible remote work policy that has stayed in place, post pandemic.
17. Skillshare
Skillshare a very generous remote work policy. Not only do you get to work from the comfort of your own home, the company will also pay for your internet, and you can also be reimbursed for your tea/coffee spend (up to $25 per month).
Skillshare employees also have unlimited vacation time, and if you have a day where you crave the office environment, Skillshare gives its workers budget to work at a shared office with Industrious Co-Working.
18. Adobe
Adobe is another company that made the shift to hybrid working during the pandemic. In 2021 the company announced that the shift to a remote-friendly model was to become permanent, although there is still a degree of flexibility at the company, and anyone who works better at the office is welcome to work there instead. The company offers both 100% remote roles, as well as hybrid.
19. GoTo
It’s perhaps not too surprising that the software company behind remote access products such as GoToMyPC and GoTo Meeting is remote first, with employees able to work from home. It also has an unlimited PTO policy.
20. Cisco
Another company that switched to remote working during the pandemic and never looked back, Cisco told its staff back in 2021 that they would never have to return to the office. The option is still there for those that want it, but the company continues to operate a very generous work from home policy.
21. Shopify
Shopify is very open to remote workers – in fact it actively encourages them. On the companies recruiting page it makes clear that it promotes flexible working for the mental wellbeing of its employees.
In addition, Shopify is happy for staff to work abroad for 90 days of the year, as part of its Destination90 program.
22. Revolut
Fintech company Revolut revealed in early 2021 that it was moving to a permanent remote working set up. In addition, the firm is happy for staff to work abroad, 60 days a year.
23. Spotify
It must have been music to employees’ ears when Spotify told its 6,000+ strong workforce that they were free to work from home or in the office should they choose. The choice is really up to the individual.
The company stated that it was looking to maintain the “perfect balance of flexibility, employment security, and job fulfilment.”
Companies That Don’t Offer Remote Jobs From Home
Before you get too cozy in your pajamas, beware. There are some companies that aren’t too keen on the idea of employees working from home. If you want a remote job, you’re going to want to avoid these.
Meta
In June 2021, Meta told staff that its remote working policy was a success, and that staff were free to work from home forever.
It seems that in Mark Zuckerberg’s mind, ‘forever’ is about two years, as in June 2023, the company announced that come September, staff were expected to spend at least three days a week in the office.
Twitter was one of the first major tech companies to give the thumbs up to working from home during the pandemic. Staff could work wherever they felt “most productive and creative.”
All that changed recently when Elon Musk purchased the company. Not only did he fire half the company in his first week – those that were left were told to return to the office.
Musk is very vocal on his distaste for remote working, so if you want to work from home, steer well clear of any company that he is attached to.
Tesla
It’s Musk again. If you’ve ever thought of becoming part of Elon’s empire, then you might need to get your shoes on and leave the house. Musk has fiercely fought against the hybrid working trend, to the point where he demanded that Tesla staff who want to work remotely must be in the office at least 40 hours per week. Those that didn’t were told to depart Tesla.
In fact, back in July the company began tracking staff attendance, with those that don’t turn up receiving automated emails shaming them.
Apple
In stark contract with rival Microsoft, Apple has been feuding with its staff publicly in 2022, trying to get them back into the office. It has had several false starts and is currently demanding that Apple employees return to the office for a mandatory three days a week.
However, the employees aren’t onboard. Forming a group named Apple Together, they have campaigned for more flexible working arrangements and been very vocal in its criticism of management.
It looks like Apple CEO Tim Cook has a fight on his hands, but if you’re committed to being fully remote, we’d suggest waiting this one out before you submit your resume to Apple.
Unlike Apple and Tesla, Google might let you work from home, but you’d be the exception. Much like Apple, the company has struggled to get its staff back to the office. Having previously mandated a three-day office week, which fell flat, the company relented slightly and softened its stance.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced that the company would allow 20% of its workforce to be fully remote, with 60% in the office a “few days a week,” and the other 20% working in new locations.
So technically yes, your new Google job might allow you to work from home, but you’ll be one of the lucky ones. There might also be fewer Google jobs around in the near future, with the company issuing cuts and tightening the purse strings.
Amazon
In September 2022, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said that there were no plans to return to the office, stating: “I don’t really believe that we’re going to end up coming back to the office.”
It’s probably something of a shock to his staff then, that in February 2023, Jassy demanded staff be in the office at least three days a week.
Activision Blizzard
Despite being behind some of the biggest names in gaming, such as Call of Duty and World of Warcraft, getting a job with Activison Blizzard might not be all fun and games. The company, which is currently being acquired by Microsoft, has recently announced an end to its fully remote work policy. Starting from 10th April, all staff must be in the office at least three days a week.
Snap
Much like Twitter, Snap used to have a very generous remote working policy. In fact, it was one of the companies that embraced this new style of working early in the pandemic.
However, those days appear to be over now, with CEO Evan Spiegel telling staff that from February 2023, they need to be in the office 80% of the time. If you want to work remotely, don’t apply to Snap. If you currently work there, start looking around.
IBM
IBM recently ordered staff to return to the office for at least three days a week, if they are located within 50 miles of the office. The news came as a shock to some employees, with less than a week’s notice given to staff.
Top Remote Jobs and Industries
There’s no doubt that remote jobs are increasingly common, with tech advances in recent years meaning that your office can literally be anywhere. While lots of companies offer remote jobs, there are certain fields and roles where it’s more common to be able to work from home. Research from FlexJobs, a recruitment site, identified industries most likely to offer remote jobs:
- Computer & IT
- Marketing
- Accounting & Finance
- Project Management
- Medical & Health
- HR & Recruiting
- Customer Service
Within these industries, it also revealed the top ten job titles posted:
- Accountant
- Executive Assistant
- Customer Service Representative
- Senior Financial Analyst
- Recruiter
- Project Manager
- Technical Writer
- Product Marketing Manager
- Customer Success Manager
- Graphic Designer
If you have an interest in any of these fields or roles, chances are good that you’ll be able to find a remote job. If not, don’t despair, there are still plenty of other roles that can feasibly done remotely, or you could always consider retraining.
Already working remotely? Check out our guide to the best remote collaboration tools to help your team stay connected from afar.
Is a Remote Job Right for Me?
At Tech.co, we’ve been writing about remote and hybrid working since way before the pandemic. We also know what we’re talking about — everyone on the team works remotely to some degree. If you’ve never worked remotely, then you might question if you can make it work — we think you can, but there are a few things to consider:
Discipline – With no eyes on you at home, compared to being in an office, you do need to make sure you can work without being distracted. If possible, try to find a space where you can focus and, most importantly, resist that TV remote. One good tip is to dress as if you were going into the office — it helps put you in a better frame of mind than your old pajamas do.
Collaboration – You might think that teamwork is tricky when working remotely, but there are so many tools at your disposal to help aid collaboration. Web conferencing is a key one — tools like Microsoft Teams and Zoom allow you to catch up with your team, no matter where you are. Virtual meetings are a slightly different beast to real life ones — read our web conferencing tips to get the most out of your next call.
Security – Offices are very secure environments, locked down by IT departments. This isn’t always the case for those working from home, and the rise in remote working has also seen a rise in cyberattacks. We suggest enlisting the help of a password manager to help keep track of all your passwords securely. A good VPN is also essential if you’re going to be working out of a cafe and using public Wi-Fi.
Working hours – Don’t feel guilty about taking regular breaks. Getting up and stretching your legs for 10 minutes can have great regenerative effects. Remember also to set a time to log off. With a nonexistent commute and your work always at your fingertips, you might be tempted to work later. Try and resist blurring the line between your work and personal life with a clear set work pattern, and let coworkers know when you’ll be signing off for the day.
It’s also important to be wary of scams when looking for a remote job. Fraudsters have been using the remote work boom to falsely make job offers, and then defraud the victims. Read our guide on ways to avoid remote work scams to recognize the signs.
