Uber is significantly reducing fully remote work, with only about 1% of its workforce expected to remain completely remote as the ride-hailing company restructures its global operations.
The change comes alongside plans to eliminate approximately 3,300 jobs, representing Uber’s largest workforce reduction since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chief Executive Officer Dara Khosrowshahi disclosed the new working arrangement in a memo to employees, saying most workers currently operating remotely would be expected to transition to an office.
Going forward, Khosrowshahi said, only 1% of employees would be allowed to work fully remotely.
Hybrid work will remain
The decision does not mean every Uber employee will be required in the office five days a week.
The company plans to maintain its hybrid working arrangement, under which employees are expected to work from an office three days each week.
Uber did not disclose the current number of fully remote employees, making it unclear how many workers will be directly affected by the change.
Khosrowshahi said the company had increasingly recognised the benefits of employees working physically together, particularly for collaboration, solving problems and developing employees who are still early in their careers.
Uber plans fewer management layers
The remote-work changes form part of a broader restructuring aimed at simplifying Uber’s organisation.
Uber intends to reduce its management ranks by approximately 20% and significantly decrease the number of small teams where managers supervise only one or two employees.
The company will also concentrate employees in major hubs depending on their responsibilities.
Global teams are expected to be concentrated in locations including New York and San Francisco, while regional, local and technology teams will operate from designated hubs.
Uber also wants managers and their teams working from the same locations wherever practical.
According to Khosrowshahi, the company’s growth over the past five years resulted in additional management layers, fragmented responsibilities and increased coordination across the organisation.
Changes come after Uber’s Nigeria exit
The restructuring follows other significant changes to Uber’s international operations.
Uber recently ended its ride-hailing operations in Nigeria and Uganda, bringing its approximately 12-year presence in the Nigerian market to an end.
Uber launched in Lagos in 2014 before expanding its operations, becoming one of the brands that helped popularise app-based ride-hailing in the country.
Its departure has left competitors including Bolt and other mobility platforms competing for a larger share of Nigeria’s ride-hailing market.
What do you feel about this post?
Like
Love
Happy
Haha
Sad
