Travel business Airbnb has extended its remote working policy until August 2021 to support the health and wellbeing of its 6,300 employees during the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic.
Despite its offices reopening this month, the organisation has given its workforce the flexibility to choose whether they would like to return to the office or continue working from home. Airbnb is offering this extension to give employees the flexibility to plan further ahead and deal with commitments outside of work that have been brought on by current country-based restrictions, such as childcare and caring for other family members.
To further support its remote working employees, Airbnb is offering a $300 (£227) payment for home office equipment, as well as an extra $200 (£151) for ergonomic purchases.
Airbnb will also continue to offer employees a quarterly $500 (£378) credit payment to use on its travel site. Additionally, employees have the option to temporarily relocate to any country that Airbnb operates in.
A spokesperson at Airbnb said: “At the start of the Coronavirus pandemic, Airbnb closed its offices to protect the health and safety of our employees around the world. Now we are extending the option for our employees to work remotely through to the end of August 2021, even if their home office has reopened.
“Employee safety remains our focus, and while we do not know when the pandemic will end, we want to provide our employees with flexibility and choice to make decisions about the next year. We are offering this remote working extension to give employees the ability to plan further ahead and make the choices they need around school calendars, being closer to family, caring for vulnerable family members, and other personal decisions. We are fortunate that our employees are able to perform their jobs from home, and we are supporting them as they do so.
“The health and safety of our employees remains our priority and we will reopen our offices when it is appropriate and safe to do so based on company guidelines as well as relevant government restrictions.”