Beyond Working 9-to-5

"Companies everywhere are struggling to figure out the future of work. Matt Mullenweg, founder and CEO of Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, says his employees are already living it.

During the pandemic, many white-collar workers grew accustomed to working unusual hours, scrambling their traditional 9-to-5 schedules to adjust for child care or other responsibilities. Automattic, founded in 2005, was an early pioneer of so-called asynchronous work, which offers workers not only flexibility on their location, but on their hours, too. The company has 1,876 employees in 97 countries who work on an "asynchronous" basis, meaning they set their own schedules. While they must hit their goals, they control when and how much they work.

To operate, the company relies heavily on written communication, including internal company blogs that keep workers updated on conversations and enable people to contribute across time zones. The Wall Street Journal spoke to Mr. Mullenweg about the benefits and challenges of asynchronous work.

WSJ: Now that many workplaces have adjusted to remote work, is the next step going asynchronous?

A: Yes. Too often, we say, "You're accountable to be at your desk this time of the day." Who cares? Your customer is not buying how many hours a day people are at their desk. People don't want a drill, they want a hole in the wall.

Also, when you're remote, but not asynchronous, it gets really awkward, especially across time zones. And even two people who live in the same city might have very different constraints on their time, whether it's taking care of kids or someone elderly.

WSJ: Many companies have embraced a hybrid model. Five years from now, do you still think this will be the mode?

A: I think hybrid will naturally die out. A lot of companies are paying for office space, and they just want to make good use of it. That's like stuffing yourself at the buffet just because you already paid for it.

Work is about collaboration, not everyone sitting at a desk with headphones on, looking at a screen.

WSJ: From an employer's standpoint, why do you think asynchronous work is the future?

A: First, it's hiring. It opens you up to talent that you might have been excluding before.

Asynchronous also allows people to structure their days to be more productive. Right now, with traditional offices, we force everyone to work in a lowest common denominator way.

WSJ: What's the biggest challenge to operating asynchronously?

A: Clarity of writing. If you don't have that, you can have people thinking they're on the same page when they actually have different understanding. We've been experimenting with classes and workshops and of course books that we recommend for people to improve their writing skills.

A strength of asynchronous work is that work can happen 24 hours a day. A downside is that it might take 24 hours to get five people to read and respond to something that they could do in a 30-minute synchronous meeting.

WSJ: Do you think the asynchronous model can work for large-scale, global enterprises?

A: I have two assistants. One is in Texas and one is in Europe. That's on purpose so that we have more time-zone coverage. Probably in the future, I'll have someone in the Asia-Pacific time zone, too. I think asynchronous work more naturally lends itself to 24/7 operations. And businesses at scale need to operate in a 24/7 fashion.

WSJ: Many proponents of the office argue it's easier to collaborate and cultivate relationships if you're physically together. What's your view?

A: I do think the No. 1 tool that people need in 2022 is the ability for people to get together in person. I actually love being in person. I really enjoy it. Meet-ups are a key part of Automattic's culture. But we've found even one week per year of people getting together would sustain them and improve their trust and connection to their colleagues.

WSJ: What might prevent asynchronous from becoming the mainstream?

A: Fear. How do I know people are working? You need great clarity on what your workers are expected to accomplish, and you'll probably be humbled and surprised by how they accomplish it, in ways that you couldn't imagine." [1] 

1. The Future of Everything: The Work Issue --- Q&A: Beyond Working 9-to-5
Te-Ping, Chen. Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y. [New York, N.Y]. 10 Feb 2022: R.6.