Xero
What's the Work-Life Balance Like at Xero?
Frequently Asked Questions
Xero approaches workload and work-life balance by emphasizing flexibility, sustainable performance and employee wellbeing. The company encourages employees to balance delivering meaningful outcomes with maintaining their personal wellbeing through flexible ways of working, wellbeing initiatives and a culture built on trust, collaboration and manager support.
- Flexible ways of working: Xero supports flexible and hybrid working arrangements, allowing many employees to balance where and how they work while staying connected with their teams. The company positions flexibility as a long-term way of working rather than a temporary benefit. One employee shared that Xero offers great work-life balance and flexibility, while another said the flexibility allows them to successfully balance both work and family responsibilities.
- Wellbeing as a business priority: Xero invests in employee wellbeing through paid wellbeing leave, mental health resources, Employee Assistance Programs, Modern Health coaching, volunteer leave and additional wellbeing initiatives designed to support employees throughout different stages of life. The company states that its objective is to help employees "do the best work of their lives" by creating an environment where people can thrive personally and professionally.
- Supportive managers and collaborative teams: Employees frequently describe managers as understanding and supportive of personal commitments while encouraging autonomy and trust. One employee noted that Xero is very understanding of family commitments and personal wellbeing, while others highlight a collaborative environment where teammates readily support one another during busy periods.
- Focus on sustainable performance: Xero emphasizes long-term success over short-term intensity by investing in both its products and its people. The company states that it is committed to cultivating a workplace where employees can grow their careers, build capabilities, make an impact, feel a sense of belonging and thrive in their work, reinforcing an approach centered on sustainable performance rather than excessive hours.
- External signals:
- Exceptional work-life balance: Employees give Xero an A+ Work-Life Balance rating, placing the company among the Top 5% of similarly sized companies for work-life balance. (Comparably)
- Positive employee feedback: Employees give Xero a 4.3/5 rating for work-life balance, with reviewers frequently highlighting flexibility, supportive leadership and respect for personal time. (Indeed)
Bottom line: Xero approaches workload and work-life balance by combining flexible ways of working with meaningful wellbeing investments and a culture built on trust and sustainable performance. Employees frequently highlight the company's flexibility, supportive managers and collaborative environment as helping them balance meaningful work with life outside the office.
Work flexibly, thrive fully at Xero
Move beyond the 9 to 5. At Xero, flexibility is more than a perk; it’s part of how we support our people to do their best work, wherever they are and whatever life looks like.
How we work
Flexible working at Xero covers a wide range of formal and informal arrangements – including remote working, hybrid work, adjusted hours, and part-time roles – which help Xeros and their team find balance in a way that supports both individual needs and collective goals to better serve our customers. Plus, we offer a Work from Anywhere program that allows employees to temporarily work outside their contracted location (depending on team needs and role), with a 90-day limit in a rolling 12-month period.
Office access
Every Xero has access via an electronic key to our office hubs, which are smart spaces designed for collaboration and connection.
Keeping connected
We intentionally create opportunities for our people to come together and connect meaningfully. Our Xeros Connect program provides global organisational rituals that bring Xeros together through events like global all-hands meetings, hackathons, annual company-wide volunteering, Xero Day, Xerovision, CEO ask-me anything sessions (AMAs), and more.
Xeros Connect also includes weekly in-office experiences – Boost Days – with catered meals and activities that support local small businesses. These events are core to our purpose and foster powerful connections.
Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)
We actively invest in our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), providing them with dedicated space and resources to foster a sense of belonging and community, globally, regionally and locally.
Async at Xero (AAX)
To ensure seamless communication across our global teams, we use Google Workplace and Slack, and have developed an Async at Xero (AAX), a framework to support working across multiple time zones and regions.
We have a wellbeing strategy that moves beyond fruit bowls and yoga classes.
We’re seriously committed to your wellbeing with a global strategy that aims to support, protect and promote the wellbeing of Xeros. We work to protect and promote wellbeing through numerous programs – read more about our Wellbeing & Benefits here: https://careers.xero.com/inside-xero/benefits-wellbeing/
Xero's Candidate Tradeoffs
If you’re weighing whether Xero is the right fit, these are the core tradeoffs to consider.
- Xero places greater emphasis on organization-wide flexibility and autonomy than on tightly standardized schedules and uniform work structures.
Xero Employee Perspectives
How flexible working has helped me grow at work while being present at home:
When I joined Xero as a Senior Engineer during the Global Pandemic, remote work was the new normal, and like many parents, I was figuring out how to balance work and family life. Today, I’m part of a team spread across Australia and New Zealand that mostly works remotely – and I can only say, it works! Xero’s remote-first approach, supported by a flexible working policy makes it clear that the company recognises people have different needs.
Feeling supported from day one:
From the beginning, I felt supported by my manager and my team. One of the things I value most is that I’ve never had to explain or justify why I need time off for my kids. Whether it’s school pickups, appointments, or simply being around when my family needs me, the response has always been understanding. That support has created a real sense of belonging — and allowed me to bring my whole self to work. It’s clear that being a parent isn’t seen as a barrier to my contribution., Family life is just normal and respected.
At Xero, I can design my days around both my work and my family. Sometimes it’s starting early so I can do school pickup. Other times, it’s blocking time out for family during the day and catching up on work later. That shift to a “step away when you need to” mindset might sound small, but it has a big impact on wellbeing. It means I never feel like I’m letting anyone down by choosing family when it matters most.
Xero recognizes that employees have responsibilities both inside and outside of work, fostering a flexible environment where people can grow their careers while prioritizing their personal lives. Employees describe a culture of trust that empowers them to balance family commitments with professional ambitions.
“I want my daughter to see a strong, career-driven female leader, but I also want to be present for her. At Xero, family comes first. When you give people that flexibility, they work harder because they feel truly appreciated.”
Xero's flexible working approach gives employees the freedom to structure their schedules around both work and personal commitments. Employees can tailor their day to collaborate across global teams while making time for family, exercise and focused work, creating a balance that supports productivity and well-being.
“I work with teams across time zones. I’m an early bird and am happy to meet with my U.K. team from home early in the morning. I can then take a break to have breakfast with my kids, exercise and make my way into the office a little later in the morning when traffic is quieter.”
What People Are Saying About Xero
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Remote or Hybrid Flexibility: Flexible working is promoted through remote, hybrid, adjusted hours, and part‑time options, plus a Work From Anywhere allowance and optional in‑office “Boost Days.” This model is presented as the default way of working to support balance without heavy office mandates.
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Time Off Access: Programs such as “Xtra leave,” wellbeing days, a paid volunteer day, and year‑end shutdowns are highlighted across benefits pages. These options create space to unplug and take time away when needed.
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Wellbeing Programs: Mental‑health resources (e.g., Modern Health/EAP) and inclusion initiatives/ERGs are emphasized on people and culture pages. These supports are framed as part of a people‑centric environment that accommodates life outside work.
Xero's Benefits
Offers a flexible time off policy
Offers generous PTO
Xero offers 21 days of paid time off, 10 wellness days, as well as 11 paid holidays per calendar year. We also participate in a company wide shut down between Christmas and New Years Day
Offers paid volunteer time
Xero encourages employees to give back to our communities by providing 8 hours of paid volunteer time per year
Procedures in place to ensure employees utilize PTO
Provides paid holidays
Provides paid sick days
Each employee is granted 10 wellness days per year in addition to our generous PTO
Provides sick leave
Provides wellness days
Utilizes company-wide vacation
You get extra days (on the house) during our end of year shutdown period.
Flexibility provided during personal challenges
Has employee-led culture committees
Offers an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Offers company-sponsored happy hours
Offers company-sponsored outings
Annual holiday party, as well as a summer celebration!
Offers Employee Resource Groups
Offers fitness stipend
Our monthly health reimbursement plan can be used towards your fitness membership or a variety of other health related wellness programs
Offers team workouts
Offers wellness initiatives designed to combat burnout and mental fatigue
Offers wellness programs
Xero will fund up to $300 annually in employee health reimbursement account to be used toward a health improvement activity including gym membership, mental, physical or financial health
Provides onsite meditation space
Provides opportunities to volunteer in the local community
Xero employees are given a day off each year to volunteer in their communities.
Works with employees to create a sustainable work pace
Async-friendly policies, culture that encourage work flexibility
Established expectations for communication between time zones
Flexible work schedule is defined with set expectations for start times, working hours and availability
Offers a remote work program
Provides work from home flexibility
Utilizes a flexible work schedule
Work flexibly, thrive fully at Xero. Flexible working at Xero covers a wide range of formal and informal arrangements – including remote working, hybrid work, adjusted hours, and part-time roles.
Utilizes a hybrid work model
