Nothing's Shift to Full-Time Office Work Sparks Debate on Remote Work Policies

A tech startup is ending hybrid work -- and the CEO says employees who don't like it should leave

The chief executive officer of British smartphone startup Nothing is ending the company's hybrid work arrangement -- and he's encouraging employees that aren't happy with the decision to find a new job. Carl Pei, who founded the London-based consumer electronics firm in October 2020, told staff in an email shared on X that the company will transition into a fully in-office setup starting in October. Although he acknowledged that the decision was "controversial," Pei said that Nothing would not be able to reach its full potential as a company under a remote or hybrid arrangement. "Remote work is not compatible with a high ambition level plus high speed," Pei said. Pei has long positioned Nothing's phones as a challenger to Apple's iPhone, and in his email reiterated his desire to make Nothing a "generation-defining company." When it comes to the company's employees, Pei said the new arrangement would be "no different from pre-COVID." But he also left the door open for employees who wish to have more flexibility to exit the company. "We know it's not the right type of setup for everybody, and that's OK," he said. "We should look for a mutual fit. You should find an environment where you thrive, and we need to find people who want to go the full mile with us in the decades ahead." The tech world has struggled to adapt to the world of hybrid work, with executives expressing concerned about the productivity losses from remote setups and calling employees back to the office full-time. Google's (GOOGL) former CEO and chairman Eric Schmidt said in a talk at Stanford University in July that Google fell behind on AI because of remote work. He later walked back the comments, saying he "misspoke." Dell, Amazon (AMZN), X, and other tech giants have also taken harsh -- and sometimes seemingly threatening - stances on remote work

A smartphone maker is ordering staff to return to the office 5 days a week, saying remote work is 'not compatible' with ambition and speed

This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Log in. However, he claimed it was necessary to help ensure the quality of Nothing's products and its ability to compete with larger companies, adding that the company's way of operating does not "work well remotely." "We are not looking to create a good business that gets acquired by a big company, we are looking to realize our full potential of becoming a generation-defining company. And we're really serious about moving fast," Pei wrote. "Remote work is not compatible with a high ambition level plus high speed," he added. Pei also said that the new setup "may not be a fit for everyone" and suggested that employees who are unhappy with the change should consider leaving for other jobs. "We know it's not the right type of setup for everybody, and that's OK. We should look for a mutual fit," he wrote. Nothing, known for selling low-priced Android smartphones with striking designs, is the latest company to attempt to get its staff to return to the office as the tide turns on working from home. Tech companies like Amazon and Google have told most employees they must be physically present in the office at least 3 days a week, while other companies like Goldman Sachs have introduced full-time return-to-office policies. Nothing's decision comes after former Google CEO Eric Schmidt told an audience at Stanford University that the tech giant was losing out in the AI arms race because of hybrid working. Schmidt later walked back the comments, which were heavily criticized by both current and former Google employees. Nothing did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.