This document outlines how we work together effectively across different time zones while maintaining transparency, trust, and productivity.
1. Working Hours & Attendance
- 8 Hours/Day
- Each team member is expected to complete 8 hours of work per day (or the equivalent weekly total if part-time).
- There is no strict start/end time, but it should follow common sense. Generally, aim to start between 8 AM and 11 AM local time and end between 5 PM and 9 PM, depending on your time zone and personal preferences. Adjust as needed, but keep your team informed.
- Although we offer flexibility regarding work-life balance, interruptions during working hours should be exceptional. Please avoid scheduling doctor appointments or other personal tasks that regularly make you unavailable during these hours—that's not the intended purpose, we expect you to be online and available to your co-workers if needed.
- Flexibility
- We value flexibility as long as you update your general working window via Slack status. If you’re in a conversation, mention if you’re stepping away to avoid leaving colleagues waiting.
- Leaving earlier or starting later some days is fine, as long as the total hours are met.
- Flexibility must be balanced with productivity. While we don’t enforce strict deadlines, a consistent lack of progress may lead to increased oversight. Autonomy is granted as long as it’s used responsibly—trust is a two-way street.
- Sick Leave
- If you’re sick or unable to work, notify your manager and team via Slack or email as soon as possible, ideally at the start of your usual workday.
- Late notifications (e.g., mid-day or end-of-day) may result in a forced unpaid day off, as timely communication is critical.
- No-Shows
- Unexplained absences without communication (“no-shows”) are counted as unpaid, per our contract.
- We recognize emergencies can happen. If you can’t notify us in advance, inform your manager as soon as possible afterward to avoid misunderstandings or payroll adjustments.
2. No-Meeting Policy
- We follow a no-meeting policy, meaning no shared calendars or regular video calls are required.
- Quick video calls may occur for ad-hoc or urgent discussions (e.g., resolving critical issues or time-sensitive decisions), but asynchronous communication via Slack and daily reports is the default.
- This approach minimizes interruptions, supports deep work, and accommodates diverse time zones.
3. Manager & Team Roles
- Manager’s Role
- Managers trust the team to manage their responsibilities independently.
- Frequent intervention or chasing updates suggests communication or workflow issues—we aim to minimize this through proactive sharing.
- Being a manager does not mean being the cop in the city, we are not here to supervise directly your work, this role is to help the team, remove blockers, increase communication, make decisions about features, show the direction you want, and provide feedback
- Team Responsibility
- Own your tasks and anticipate blockers or delays, communicating them early.
- Keep your work visible via Slack status updates, daily reports, and code pushes.
- Regularly update your Slack status and provide daily reports to keep the team informed of progress and challenges.
4. Slack Status & Communication
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Slack Status
- Online (Green dot / No status): You’re available and working.
- Away / BRB: For short breaks (e.g., coffee, quick errands, walk your dog).
- Lunch: During a meal break when you’re not responsive.
- Focus Time: For uninterrupted deep work.
- End of Day / Offline: When you’re done for the day.
- If working outside usual hours due to personal commitments, set your status to reflect availability.
You can easily update your Slack status, by clicking on your profile picture (down-left corner of Slack) and “Update your status” - We already preset basic ones, but you are free to make your own.
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Prompt Updates
- Update your Slack status when it changes (e.g., taking a longer break or ending early) to avoid confusion and reduce private check-ins from managers or colleagues.