Spotify HR Head Backs Work-From-Anywhere Policy: "Employees Aren’t Children"

As global giants like Amazon, Apple, and JPMorgan roll back hybrid work policies and mandate a return to the office, Spotify is standing firm on its popular work-from-anywhere approach. The world’s leading music streaming service believes in empowering its employees with flexibility and freedom, a principle rooted in its digital-first DNA.

“You can’t spend a lot of time hiring grownups and then treat them like children,” Spotify’s Chief Human Resources Officer, Katarina Berg, told Raconteur. “We’ve been digital from birth, so why shouldn’t we give our people flexibility? Work is not a place you go to—it’s something you do.”

While Berg acknowledges that some companies revert to traditional office settings because it feels familiar, she sees no reason for Spotify to follow suit. She emphasized that the company has observed no decline in productivity or efficiency since adopting its flexible working model.

Spotify has also partnered with the Stockholm School of Economics to delve deeper into the effects of virtual work on collaboration and innovation. “It’s true that virtual collaboration is challenging,” Berg said. “But does that mean we’ll force people back to the office just because it’s trending? Absolutely not.”

Despite its remote-first philosophy, Spotify maintains its office spaces and encourages in-person interactions during an annual "core week," where teams gather to strategize and collaborate.

“People who work here love music,” Berg explained. “Our focus is on creating experiences that make employees want to come to the office, rather than mandating it.”

By prioritizing flexibility, Spotify continues to set an example of how businesses can embrace modern work paradigms without compromising on performance or employee satisfaction.