USA 
United Kingdom
While major corporations like Amazon and Goldman Sachs push for employees to return to the office, Glassdoor’s CEO, Christian Sutherland-Wong, has tied his colours to the mast in support of remote working.
The workplace review site boss believes the flexible model is the future, because of its ability to unlock talent worldwide.
In an interview with Fortune, Sutherland-Wong highlighted the transformative impact of going fully remote, a decision Glassdoor solidified earlier this year by closing its remaining offices in Chicago and San Francisco.
“The biggest benefit we’ve seen is being able to tap into talent all around the US and the globe that we didn’t have access to when we were office-based,” he said.
While many CEOs are reinstating in-office mandates, Sutherland-Wong views remote work as a permanent shift in how businesses operate. “The workplace is far more distributed than it was pre-2020,” he said.
Although he acknowledged that some companies would continue to favor physical office spaces, he added: “We’ve all learned that you can be productive even when you’re not in the same location. This trend is here to stay.”
The Glassdoor CEO’s comments come amid drawn out debates about the merits of office-based versus remote work. Proponents of the return-to-office model often cite collaboration and innovation as key reasons, while advocates for remote work point to flexibility and access to broader talent pools.
The role of AI in recruitment
The Glassdoor boss also addressed the integration of artificial intelligence in hiring, noting its potential to improve job seekers’ experiences. He envisions AI-powered tools providing personalized support to applicants, replacing the current “black hole” experience where candidates often feel ignored after applying for roles.
“What AI can do is take the white-glove experience traditionally reserved for executives and make it available to everyone,” he explained. “An agent could guide you through your job-seeking journey, making it much smoother.”
Glassdoor, which allows employees to share anonymous reviews and salary information, has been a traditional champion of workplace transparency. Sutherland-Wong praised recent pay transparency laws, calling them a step toward gender and racial pay equity.
“Transparency begins with pay,” he said, adding that Glassdoor’s platform continues to hold employers accountable in ways legislation alone cannot.
Whichever way individual companies decide to go with flexible working, HR departments and leadership will play critical roles in implementing and managing any transition. Meanwhile, the evolving use of AI in recruitment could further reshape and enhance how companies attract and retain top talent, ensuring that remote work and digital tools become not just a necessity but a competitive advantage.
