CEO rips into WFH trend as staff called out over ‘shocking’ office act: ‘Misused the freedom’
The CEO of popular rideshare company Ola has reportedly called out staff over their “very poor” office attendance in a work-from-home crackdown. An increasing number of companies are ordering employees back into the office and workers have been warned their employer could soon follow suit.
Ola CEO and co-founder Bhavish Aggarwal reportedly told staff that the Indian rideshare company would be taking a “more stringent” approach to working from the office because of staff who had “misused the freedom”. According to the Times of India, Aggarwal issued a company-wide email to staff last week that has since gone viral.
“I would imagine everyone has the basic self-respect to not fleece the company by not even turning up for work. It’s even disrespectful to those colleagues who genuinely work hard and contribute.”
Aggarwal, who co-founded the company in 2011, noted that Ola does not have any WFH policy except for “genuine needs”.
“Monday onwards a more stringent attendance expectation will start. And those of you who have misused the freedom so far, HR will be having a conversation with you,” he warned.
“The best excuse I’ve heard so far is that the facial recognition system data is wrong. Let’s not insult basic intelligence.”
Aggarwal then encouraged staff to “come to work, do good work, and feel a part of Ola’s mission”.
Ola abruptly exited the Australian market in April this year, after more than six years of operation.
Yahoo Finance has contacted Ola for comment.
Aussies warned WFH days are over
Plenty of Aussie companies have been pushing for their staff to return back to the office full-time.
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy has ordered staff back into the office full-time from January next year, including some 7,000 Aussie workers.
In a memo to staff, Jassy said the company continued to “believe that the advantages of being together in the office are significant” and noted it was easier for staff to learn, collaborate and brainstorm in the office.
Aussie gambling company Tabcorp ordered its 1,500 employees back into the office in September, while the NSW government told its 450,000 public sector staff to return in August.
Superior People Recruitment founder Graham Wynn told Yahoo Finance he expected there would be a “bigger push” for return to office next year.
“I still think the biggest issue is work from home is it creates a two-tier working system, even within one company, because if you’re manufacturing, you can’t do that from home in the same company, sales people, it people can work from home,” he said.
Wynn said CBDs were now “dead” due to a lack of workers and he expected governments would start introducing more in-office days to help other struggling businesses, while the private sector would come back full-time next year.
KPMG’s CEO survey found 82 per cent of Aussie bosses expected white-collar workers to be fully back in the office in three years.