Suara Sherif
Uber has laid off thousands of workers and is now asking most of its remaining remote employees to move to an office or take their chances as part of a very small group allowed to stay fully remote.
The ride-hailing firm says the policy is meant to boost teamwork and mentoring.
But coming right after big job cuts, it has also sparked questions about whether the goal is culture or a subtle push for more exits.
According to a memo from CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, Uber will limit fully remote roles to roughly 1 percent of staff.
The bulk of remote workers will be required to relocate to an office.
The announcement follows a decision to cut about 3,300 jobs, the company’s biggest round of layoffs since the pandemic.
Uber will continue with a hybrid setup that mandates three office days per week, while full remote work becomes an exception.
The company did not state how many employees are currently fully remote.
It also did not say if it will pay for relocation or what will happen to those who refuse to move.
Khosrowshahi linked the change to the value of in-person collaboration, problem-solving, and support for junior staff.
He added that Uber wants more clarity on where teams are based.
Under the new model, global teams will be centered in key hubs like New York and San Francisco. Regional teams will operate out of set regional offices.
Country teams will be in national hubs, and tech teams in tech hubs.
Where possible, managers and their direct reports will work from the same location.
The remote policy is part of a wider reorganization.
Uber plans to flatten its structure, cut management layers, and eliminate very small teams. Management positions are expected to drop by about 20 percent.
“Micro teams” with managers overseeing only one or two people could be reduced by around 50 percent.
For Uber, the direction is clear: in-office work is central again.
For remote staff, the options are limited: relocate, or remain as one of the few exceptions.
The move comes as Uber scales back in parts of Africa.
The company shut down ride-hailing in Nigeria in September after 12 years, and also left Uganda. Uber entered Lagos in 2014 before expanding to other cities.
With its exit, competitors like Bolt now dominate a market that expanded sharply after Uber’s arrival.
