Zoom's Return-To-Office Policy

Zoom, the video communications company whose name became synonymous with remote work during Covid, have ordered their 7,400 hired hands back to the office. 

 

"We believe that a structured hybrid approach – meaning employees that live near an office, need to be on site two days a week to interact with their teams – is most effective for Zoom", a company spokesperson said, via The New York Times. 

 

Therefore, those living within 50 miles (80km) of a Zoom office should start showing up at the office at least twice a week. It is the latest push by a major tech firm to row back flexible working policies. 

 

Ironically, discussing the new return-to-office policy with employees last week took place over Zoom. 

 

And to think, Zoom at one point said their people would be able to work remotely indefinitely. 

 

Only about 1% of the company's workers had "regular office presences" in September 2022, while 75% lived remotely and the remainder had hybrid arrangements, the Wall Street Journal reported at the time. 

 

But growth has slowed sharply since the pandemic. Earlier this year, they announced they were cutting 15% of their staff and top executives would take major pay cuts. Even their shares are only worth about $68 apiece today, down from more than $500 at the peak in October 2020.