Even Zoom wants its workers to come back to the office now
Layoffs, and now office mandates are on the way from Zoom
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
If the first half of 2023 was characterized by mass layoffs, then the second half certainly looks to have a particular focus on returning to the office, withvideo conferencinggiant bizarrely Zoom now asking workers to leave their homes once more.
The company confirmed that workers living within a 50-mile radius of a Zoom office should now return there for at least two days per week (viaBusiness Insider).
The new return-to-office (RTO) mandate is a full 180-degree change on what Zoom had previously said, implying that only a small minority of workers would need to be office-based.
Zoom asks workers to RTO
A company spokesperson confirmed: “We believe that a structured hybrid approach - meaning a set number of days employees that live near an office need to be onsite- is most effective for Zoom. As a company, we are in a better position to use our own technologies, continue to innovate, and support our global customers.
We’ll continue to leverage the entire Zoom platform to keep our employees and dispersed teams connected and working efficiently."
We’ve rounded up the best hybrid working tech around>Amazon workers walk out to protest return to office mandates>Amazon is forcing workers to relocate as it tries to enforce a return to the office
For many, it may seem peculiar that Zoom has asked its workers not to rely on the app, and instead work in-person.
Others will draw a likeness between Zoom and other companies that have enacted similar policies, includingMicrosoft,Google, and Meta, who all cite improved productivity in office-based environments, likely due to ad-hoc encounters and the social aspect.
Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter
Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed!
Not immune from earlier trends, in February Zoom announced that it would be laying off 15% of its workforce, or around 1,300 workers, in and around the San Francisco Bay area. Unlike some others, the company has not announced any further redundancies since then. For some workers, this slight sense of security could be worth two office-based days per week.
With several years’ experience freelancing in tech and automotive circles, Craig’s specific interests lie in technology that is designed to better our lives, including AI and ML, productivity aids, and smart fitness. He is also passionate about cars and the decarbonisation of personal transportation. As an avid bargain-hunter, you can be sure that any deal Craig finds is top value!
Google puts Nvidia on high alert as it showcases Trillium, its rival AI chip, while promising to bring H200 Tensor Core GPUs within days
A new form of macOS malware is being used by devious North Korean hackers
This super-cheap HP Victus 15 gaming laptop just dropped to its lowest price yet
