Life360 is going all-in on its remote-first policy, standing against the tide of businesses that are recommitting to full-time in-person work. Despite appearances, a few companies are still embracing remote work, using the many advantages of the hybrid model to make it work. While the list of remote-friendly companies has grown smaller in 2025, the continued presence of some businesses on this list gives employees hope for opportunities where they can find the flexibility that they desire in their employment.
Life360’s remote culture is thriving with the power of in-person meetings to keep the team tied together, and this may just be the key to collaboration that many other businesses are on the hunt for.
Life360’s remote-first strategy serves as a reminder that companies are still embracing remote work despite the global push towards RTO policies. (Image: Freepik)
Life360’s Remote-First Strategy Shows That In-Person Work Doesn’t Have to Define Productivity
In a recent interview with Business Insider, Lauren Antonoff, CEO of Life360, revealed the state of operations at the organization and how the return-to-office strategy “makes no sense.” Explaining the reasoning behind the remote-friendly strategy, she said, “The secret of making remote work isn’t better online meetings, it’s more in-person meetings.” Antonoff added that, “Life360 had taken the budget that used to be dedicated for buildings and those types of things and put it into travel.”
The remote-first strategy at Life360 isn’t particularly complex or hard to follow. It thrives on the simple principle that employees do not need to work in person at all times in order to collaborate. Interactions and operations can be conducted from the comfort of employees’ homes, with exceptions made occasionally to allow for in-person meetings where key discussions can be conducted face-to-face.
For such a strategy to be possible, it does require that employees stay closer to each other in order to accommodate these in-person interactions. This isn’t possible for all remote organizations, as some employees work from across the country, and flying in for meetings frequently can cause the costs to ramp up. Despite that, the strategy appears to be working for Life360 and its remote culture, and could be emulated by other businesses that have a similar set-up.
Remote-First Companies Still Exist in 2025
The advantages of remote work undoubtedly appeal to the many remote-first companies that are still holding their ground in 2025. Spotify is a business that has led the pack with its “work-from-anywhere” culture, allowing employees to operate from home while also providing benefits with regard to coming into the workplace on occasion.
Atlassian has a similar “team anywhere” principle that allows employees to work from a designated work location or operate outside of it for a designated period each year. The company explains on its website, “Atlassians are able to work from anywhere where we have a legal entity, as long as they have working rights to live there, timezone compatibility for their role, and approval and support from their leadership team.”
Olipop is another example of a small business with big plans for its employees. The company largely operates remotely, using its savings from limited office spaces on its workers’ benefits instead. The company recently made headlines for encouraging its workers to use their PTO days to take a break, incentivising them to make the most of the benefits available to them.
Can Remote Work Survive Despite the RTO Push?
A remote-first culture comes with many benefits. For employees, it offers the freedom to operate from home, saving time, money, and energy on the challenges that come with commuting back and forth. For businesses, the satisfaction of employees is an obvious advantage, but it also helps them save on overhead costs and invest in a smaller office that they can use as needed. Coworking spaces are available everywhere you look, and strategies like hot-desking ensure that employees who need a desk or a meeting room at work have one when it’s necessary.
A survey commissioned by cybersecurity and cloud computing company Akamai Technologies found that not only are remote-friendly strategies sustainable, but they also promise productivity. The study found that 83% of remote-friendly companies report high productivity levels from their existing strategies. Additionally, 62% of these companies don’t rely on surveillance tools to monitor workers, suggesting that they operate on principles of mutual trust and responsibility.
Remote work presents a legion of challenges from the management perspective, but these aren’t insurmountable to address and resolve. Acknowledging the rise of RTO policies, it is also clear that there are many businesses that enjoy the benefits of offering remote opportunities to employees.
How Are Remote-Friendly Companies Making It Work?
Companies like Microsoft and Amazon may have repopularised in-person work and RTO policies, but the survey revealed that 52% of surveyed companies are still embracing remote work. The reasons for sticking to remote work despite the RTO push are straightforward, according to the survey. Around 72% claim it allows them to access a wider talent pool, 62% pursue it for the work-life balance, and 31% do so due to the resulting retention numbers.
These companies with a remote-first culture acknowledge the relevance of in-person interactions, turning to in-person strategy sessions, team-building events, and social gatherings annually or semi-annually to keep the workforce united. The strategies appear aligned with Life360’s remote-first policy of pursuing face-to-face interactions where they can be most impactful.
There are obvious benefits to hybrid or fully in-person work, but businesses that choose to go this route will also have to actively build a culture around it for it to be successful and sustainable. As many organizations may have noticed, calling employees back to the office does not promise collaboration and productivity instantly. The decision to turn to a remote work system or join the RTO push is entirely up to businesses, but it’s important to remember that their benefits are only available to those who pursue it in its entirety.
Do you agree with the remote-first strategy at Life360, or is it better to return to traditional in-person work? Share your thoughts and experiences with us. Subscribe to The HR Digest for more insights on workplace trends, layoffs, and what to expect with the advent of AI.