As Uber unveils plans to increase office attendance and trim employee benefits, internal dissent is mounting. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi is standing firm on these controversial changes.
On Monday, CNBC reported that Uber will increase mandatory in-office days from two to three per week starting next month. The company is also extending the tenure required for paid sabbaticals from five to eight years. Adding fuel to the fire, some previously approved remote workers are now being asked to return to the office.
In a recent staff meeting, Khosrowshahi showed his unwavering stance, asserting this decision is crucial for the company’s future, whether the employees like it or not. However, employees are voicing their discontent loudly through internal channels.
Responding to the backlash, Khosrowshahi stressed that Uber a company that utilizes generative artificial intelligence (AI), and its employees should focus on contributing to the company instead of benefits.
This shift in policy mirrors a broader trend sweeping through Silicon Valley. Google recently warned some staff that they could face termination if they don’t abandon remote work arrangements. While Uber claims in-person work boosts collaboration, innovation, and company culture, employees are pushing back, citing insufficient office space and the erosion of existing benefits.
To address space concerns, Uber plans to add 700,000 square feet of office space in San Francisco’s Mission Bay and Seattle, expanding meeting areas and cafeterias.
