Zoom mandates employees’ return to the office

Zoom, a mainstay of remote work during the pandemic, is instructing its employees to increase their office presence.

In a statement provided to The Hill, a spokesperson for Zoom stated that the company believes a “structured hybrid approach” is the most effective strategy for the video communications company.

Employees who live near an office are required to be present in the office for two days a week in order to collaborate with their teams, according to the spokesperson. 

“As a company, we are in a better position to utilize our own technologies, drive innovation, and support our global customers,” the spokesperson added. The company will continue to rely on the Zoom platform to keep their geographically dispersed teams connected and productive. 

Zoom’s decision follows the lead of other major employers, including Disney and Amazon, who have also encouraged employees to return to the office, at least on a part-time basis. 

While the number of fully remote employees is decreasing according to a study from Pew Research Center earlier this year, approximately one-third of workers with jobs that can be done remotely continue to work from home full-time. 

Zoom is among several tech companies that have announced layoffs this year. In February, the company revealed plans to cut over 15 percent of its workforce, which amounts to about 1,300 jobs. Zoom CEO Eric Yuan acknowledged that the company had experienced rapid growth during the pandemic and was also considering the uncertainty of the global economy. 

The layoffs came after Zoom achieved a substantial increase in revenue when the COVID-19 pandemic forced employees, students, and organizations to work remotely. The company reported a revenue of $2.65 billion during the 2021 fiscal year, marking a 326 percent increase from the previous year.