Zoom calls remote workers back to ‘structured, hybrid’ office

Zoom is calling remote workers back to the office, prompting a wave of media commentary due to the company’s role in supporting remote work during the Covid pandemic.

Zoom employees who live within 50 miles of one of its locations will now be required to work in the office at least two days a week, a policy the company describes as a “structured hybrid approach”.

In a widely reported statement, Colleen Rodriguez, Zoom’s head of global PR, said: “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. As a company, we are in a better position to use our own technologies, continue to innovate, and support our global customers.”

Media commentary was less measured.

“The remote work revolution is officially dead,” said Business Insider, the first publication to report the news.

Zoom is only the latest big tech company to require hybrid working from employees. Google and Apple introduced a requirement for workers to be in the office three days a week, starting last year.

Meanwhile Zoom’s record revenue growth of more than 400% during 2020 has slowed to 3% in the last quarter.