Bolt CEO ends remote work, cites cohesion and empty offices
TALLINN, ESTONIA — Ride-share company Bolt has announced a new policy ending its remote work option, citing concerns about disconnected teams and empty offices.
New policy details
In an internal email, CEO Markus Villig expressed frustration with employees working from exotic locations, particularly targeting those operating from Bali.
“We are too scattered, people feel disconnected, attrition is too high, and our offices lie empty,” said Villig. “We will stop the insanity of people working remotely from places like Bali. That is a vacation, not what we hired them to do.”
The Estonian company’s 11,000-strong workforce will now be required to attend the office at least 12 days per month starting January 2025.
Speculations behind Bolt’s RTO mandate
While Villig argues the policy is essential to rebuild company cohesion, some observers question whether the move serves a secondary purpose of indirectly reducing headcount.
As RTO mandates become more common, they are often viewed as strategic layoffs in disguise, a way to weed out employees less willing or able to comply with in-office requirements.
“We are absolutely fine if some people decide this is not for them, as the cultural impact far outweighs it,” Villig added, suggesting that Bolt is prepared for potential turnover.
Grete Kivi, Bolt’s global employer branding manager, echoed this sentiment on LinkedIn, stating, “Working at Bolt is not for everyone.” Kivi emphasized that the company has “never been remote-first,” making it clear that current employees were aware of the potential for such a shift.
Broader corporate trends in 2024
Aside from Bolt, other major companies like Amazon implement stricter return-to-office policies. However, Forrester, a market research firm, has warned that these mandates may lead to resistance from employees who prefer hybrid work setups, noting that “forcing the issue is a recipe for rebellion — quiet resistance, soaring attrition, and a hit to productivity.”
