Bolt CEO Slams Remote Work “Insanity,” Calls 4,000 Employees Back To Office

Bolt, the Estonian rival to Uber, is enforcing a partial return-to-office mandate for its 4,000 employees, requiring them to be in the office 12 days a month, or roughly three days a week. 

This comes after CEO Markus Villig criticized staff for working remotely from vacation destinations like Bali, expressing concerns over disconnect and high attrition rates, according to Fortune. 

In an internal email, Villig stated that the company had become too complacent in its hiring practices, leading to a scattered workforce and empty offices. He described the situation as “insanity” and emphasized that many employees were effectively taking holidays on company time. 

Villig lamented that less than half of the staff were in the office at least two days a week, which he deemed unacceptable.

Grete Kivi, Bolt’s global employer branding manager, downplayed the changes, asserting that the company has always expected a strong in-office presence. She emphasized that finding the right work setup is a mutual obligation between employers and employees.

Starting January 1, the new hybrid policy will formalize the requirement for in-office work while still allowing some flexibility. A Bolt representative reiterated the importance of in-person collaboration for innovation and performance.

This move mirrors a wider trend among companies tightening remote work policies. Amazon, for example, has mandated a full-time return to the office. 

Analysts from Forrester warn that such strict requirements could lead to employee dissatisfaction and higher turnover rates. They argue that many companies resisting hybrid models may struggle to attract and retain talent now.