Late last month, Uber decided to adopt a controversial trend in corporate America. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi issued a stern email to employees indicating that the company will reduce remote work.
Khosrowshahi stated, “Going forward, we’re further raising this bar. After a thorough review of our existing remote approvals, we’re asking many remote employees to come into an office. In addition, we’ll hire new remote roles only very sparingly.”
Starting in June, employees will be required to work in the office from Tuesday to Thursday. This change follows Uber’s 2022 announcement allowing workers to use Tuesdays and Thursdays as “anchor days,” working in the office only two days a week.
Uber’s leadership team will monitor in-office attendance at both team and individual levels to ensure expectations are met. Khosrowshahi asserted that while remote work has benefits, being in the office enhances collaboration, sparks creativity, and increases productivity.
In an interview with CNBC, Khosrowshahi reinforced this policy, emphasizing the desire for employees to excel by collaborating in the office. He acknowledged that while discussions are ongoing with staff about the new in-office mandate, employees have the option to decide whether to stay with the company.
Regarding the new policy, Khosrowshahi remarked that employees at Uber have ample opportunities in the current strong job market. The company also updated its sabbatical program, now requiring eight years of service instead of five for eligibility to take a fully paid four-week vacation. Khosrowshahi described the program as generous and reiterated the importance of hard work.
Uber reported increased profits for the first quarter of 2025, with a 14% rise in monthly active platform consumers and an 18% increase in trips booked through the app. Overall, it generated $11.5 billion in revenue, a 14% increase from the same quarter last year.
Khosrowshahi expressed satisfaction with the profitable growth and user retention, attributing success to the strength of the core business and developments in autonomous vehicles.
The decision to scale back remote work may be risky. A survey by ResumeBuilder.com found that 20% of workers are likely to leave if companies monitor in-office attendance, and 33% are somewhat likely to do the same. Resume Builder’s Chief Career Advisor, Stacie Haller, noted that for many employees, remote work remains essential, and job seekers have options for remote positions.
