Venture capital firm faces backlash over anti-WFH video
MANILA, PHILIPPINES — A technology-focused venture capital firm has found itself at the center of controversy after releasing a TikTok video that appears to mock and belittle work-from-home (WFH) employees.
The video from Philippine-based company Nimbyx, which quickly went viral, asked employees to describe their thoughts on working from home in four words.
The responses included phrases like “Encourages laziness and complacency” and “Boring and I’m alone.”
The CEO’s comment, however, caused the most outrage, stating, “Makes you dumber every day.”
Video content sparks widespread criticism
The video was met with immediate backlash, with many social media users expressing their anger and disappointment.
One user tweeted, “So @nimbyx is belittling work-from-home employees now? This speaks volumes about the kind of work environment you have and the mindset you instill in your employees. DISGUSTING!”
So @nimbyx is belittling work from home people now? Speaks volumes on what kind working environment you have and the mindset you instill to your employees. DISGUSTING! 🚮🚮🚮#WFH #WorkFromHome pic.twitter.com/U9sO50u8hw
— pink_fryday (@FrydayPink) August 4, 2024
Another user took issue with the CEO’s statement, noting, “Work from home is NOT for everyone, but don’t attack the WFH community as it’s a privilege and blessing to anyone esp that our transport system is fvcked up. AND WOW WHAT A CHOICE OF WORDS COMING FROM A CEO???”
Work from home is NOT for everyone, but don't attack the WFH community as it's a privilege and blessing to anyone esp that our transport system is fvcked up. AND WOW WHAT A CHOICE OF WORDS COMING FROM A CEO???! 💩 @NimbyxPH @nimbyx pic.twitter.com/EuYsgiC4W7
— tantannn 🏳️🌈 (@tantannn06) August 5, 2024
Nimbyx’s response fails to quell outrage
In an attempt to address the backlash, the company released a follow-up video on their Facebook account, answering questions raised on social media.
However, this effort seems to have done little to quell the criticism, with the comment section continuing to overflow with negative responses.
“Your points are too simplistic that’s why people got mad, and you’re holding your work environment higher than others,” one user said.
“No one is hating you for preferring to work onsite, but it’s you promoting hate in working from home,” another commented.
Outsource Accelerator has reached out to Nymbix for a statement. They said that they have uploaded their CEO’s official video statement, standing firm on what he said about working-from-home.
Debate over remote work continues
The controversy has reignited discussions about the merits of remote work versus on-site employment. While some individuals thrive in the flexibility of a WFH setup, others prefer the structure of an office environment.
A Reddit user shared, “I’m the healthiest and have become more confident and innovative in my job since I started working from home.”
As the debate continues, it’s clear that the effectiveness of WFH versus on-site work largely depends on individual preferences and work ethic. However, the suggestion that remote work inherently leads to intellectual decline has been widely dismissed as unfounded and offensive.
