Uber CEO to employees who want to keep working from home: You have “to make a choice”

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi has sent a warning to employees who prefer full-time remote work, saying that they will “have to make a choice” between adhering to the new mandate and seeking opportunities elsewhere, a report has said. The development comes soon after it is reported that Uber is facing significant internal tension over its stricter return-to-office (RTO) policy.According to a report by Fortune, Khosrowshahi is standing by the company’s recent decision to increase in-office work days, igniting fierce employee pushback, with staff voicing criticism on internal forums.The staff reportedly cite issues such as burnout and logistical challenges like inadequate workspace. The discontent boiled over in a heated all-hands meeting last week, where employees reportedly “peppered” Khosrowshahi with pointed questions and criticism, according to an audio recording reviewed by CNBC.During this meeting, Khosrowshahi reportedly dismissed concerns, stating simply, “it is what it is,” and acknowledging, “We recognise some of these changes are going to be unpopular with folks. This is a risk we decided to take.”In an interview with CNBC subsequent to Uber's Q1 earnings, Khosrowshahi defended the new policy, calling it “a great policy” that represents “the right mix of giving your employees flexibility but also getting them to the office for those all-important teamwork tasks.” When pressed on the situation of employees hired under different remote work expectations, he maintained they would “have to make a choice,” adding that a strong job market means "people who work at Uber, they have lots of opportunities everywhere." He reiterated the company's expectation that employees “work hard,” including working “hard together” in the office.Effective in June, Uber is increasing its in-office requirement from two to three days per week. Alongside this, eligibility for the company's month-long paid sabbatical benefit is being raised from five to eight years of service. The changes also impact some employees previously approved for permanent remote work, who are now being asked to return to the office.The report goes on to claim that following the meeting, Uber's Chief People Officer, Nikki Krishnamurthy, issued a memo to staff, stating that certain comments made by employees during the broadcast were “unprofessional and disrespectful” and had crossed an acceptable boundary for internal discourse.