Microsoft’s headquarters in Redmond, Wash. (GeekWire Photo / Monica Nickelsburg)

Microsoft has released new “hybrid workplace” guidance that lays out how employees can have a more flexible remote work schedule and even relocate elsewhere in the country as the tech giant continues to adjust to changing needs during the ongoing pandemic.

The Verge first reported on the internal messaging Friday, saying that Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft will allow employees to work from home freely for less than 50 percent of their working week, and managers will be able to approve permanent remote work.

RELATED: Death of the HQ? Pandemic hits commercial real estate, but long-term trends still open to debate

“We will offer as much flexibility as possible to support individual work styles, while balancing business needs, and ensuring we live our culture,” Kathleen Hogan, Microsoft’s chief people officer, said a post on the Official Microsoft Blog.

Other highlights of the guidance include:

  • Employees who opt to WFH permanently will give up their assigned office space, but can still use “touchdown space” at Microsoft offices.
  • Employees can move across country for remote work, but compensation and benefits will change and vary depending on the company’s own geopay scale. Those who move will need to cover their own relocation expenses.
  • Microsoft will cover home office expenses for permanent remote workers.
  • Flexible working hours will be available without manager approval.

The company stressed that some roles still require access to Microsoft offices, hardware, data centers and in-person training.

“Flexibility can mean different things to each of us, and we recognize there is no one-size-fits-all solution given the variety of roles, work requirements and business needs we have at Microsoft,” Hogan said.

Microsoft was one of the first companies to shift its tech workforce remotely when the coronavirus hit in March. Other tech giants such as Twitter and Zillow have said they’ll allow employees to work from home indefinitely.

In offering his own WFH tips this week, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said he’s focused on three major considerations of how the nature of work is changing amid the pandemic: how collaboration happens, how learning happens inside companies, and how to ensure employees aren’t burning out.

Like what you're reading? Subscribe to GeekWire's free newsletters to catch every headline

Job Listings on GeekWork

Find more jobs on GeekWork. Employers, post a job here.