Nothing, the British tech company behind popular smartphones and earbuds, has announced a new work policy requiring all employees to return to the office five days a week.
CEO Carl Pei communicated this change in an email to the company’s 450 employees, which he later posted on LinkedIn. Pei cited the need for in-person collaboration, creativity, and speed as reasons why remote work no longer aligns with Nothing’s ambitions.
When Nothing was founded in 2020, the company operated fully remotely due to pandemic restrictions. As the situation evolved, the London-based firm adopted a hybrid work model at its headquarters, with other sites operating fully in-office. Now, Nothing is moving all employees back to the office full-time, including those in London.
Pei provided three key reasons for this decision:
- Collaboration on Physical Products: Pei emphasized that Nothing’s focus on creating physical products requires close collaboration among its design, engineering, manufacturing, and quality teams, which he believes is difficult to achieve remotely.
- Creativity and Innovation: He stated that creativity and innovation are essential for Nothing to compete with larger companies, and argued that these elements do not thrive in a remote work environment.
- Ambitious Goals: Pei linked the decision to Nothing’s goal of becoming a generation-defining company that operates at a fast pace, which he said is not compatible with remote work.
In his message, Pei acknowledged that the new policy might not be suitable for everyone, encouraging those who do not feel comfortable with the change to find a workplace where they can thrive. He stressed the importance of finding “a mutual fit” between the company’s needs and employees’ preferences.
Is This a Common Trend Among Tech Companies?
Pei’s stance on returning to the office reflects a broader trend among tech leaders who are pushing for a full return to in-person work.
Amazon’s CEO Andy Jassy made a similar statement last year, telling employees who were unwilling to return to the office that it “probably won’t work out” for them. Elon Musk has also implemented strict in-office requirements at his companies, mandating that employees spend at least 40 hours per week in the office.
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