Uber CEO to staff: Don’t like RTO? Leave
CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES — Uber is the latest tech giant to tighten its workplace policies. Starting in June, corporate employees must work from the office at least three days a week-up from two days.
The company is also extending the eligibility for its month-long paid sabbatical from five to eight years of service. Some employees who had previously been approved for remote work are now being asked to return to the office.
These changes have ignited criticism among staff, with many questioning the rationale behind the stricter requirements. In a recent all-hands meeting, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi acknowledged the backlash, telling employees, “We recognize some of these changes are going to be unpopular with folks. This is a risk we decided to take.”
CEO: Employees can “make a choice”
Khosrowshahi has made it clear that the new policies are non-negotiable.
In a CNBC interview, he said, “They’ve got to make their own choice, do they want to come to the office, or is working remotely really important for them? The good news is the economy is still really strong, the job market is strong. People who work at Uber, they have lots of opportunities everywhere”.
While emphasizing that Uber would prefer to retain its talent, Khosrowshahi stood firm: “We want them, obviously, to take the opportunity with us, to take the opportunity to learn,” but added, “We want more people in the office. It’s the right mix of giving your employees flexibility but also getting them to the office for those all-important teamwork tasks”.
Industry-wide shift in tech benefits
Uber’s move follows a broader trend in the tech industry, where companies like Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft have also scaled back remote work and other employee benefits in pursuit of greater efficiency and profitability.
Meta and Microsoft, for example, have implemented performance-based layoffs and revised compensation structures, while other firms have cut perks such as free meals and wellness programs.
An Uber spokesperson stressed that the new policies are not tied to layoffs or intended to drive attrition, but are meant to foster collaboration and innovation. Still, the changes highlight the growing tension between tech workers’ expectations and management’s push for in-person work and cost discipline.
