Uber has announced a significant update to its work from home policy alongside plans to reduce its global workforce by approximately 10%. This restructuring will result in around 3,300 corporate job losses worldwide.
The ride-hailing firm’s chief executive, Dara Khosrowshahi, communicated these changes to employees on Wednesday, emphasising that the reorganisation aims to create a “simpler and faster” business by removing management layers and consolidating teams.
While Uber, headquartered in San Francisco, did not disclose the exact number of redundancies at each office location-including its London-based UK office-it confirmed that affected staff have been notified. The company also noted that local procedures will be followed in certain countries.
READ MORE: ‘Declining’ Gloucester area set to be transformed with new food hall and market
READ MORE: Why Buying a Home in the Charming Cotswolds Village of Batsford Is Nearly Impossible
Mr Khosrowshahi explained that although Uber has experienced substantial growth over the past five years, this expansion introduced complexities such as additional management layers, increased coordination demands, and fragmented ownership structures. Some frameworks that were suitable for smaller teams no longer support the company’s current scale effectively.
The restructuring intends to streamline operations and increase capacity for future investments, according to the chief executive. Additionally, Uber is revising its approach to remote working by requiring the vast majority of employees who have been working remotely to return to the office. The company will enforce a hybrid work model that mandates three days per week on-site, leaving less than 1% of staff fully remote.
Mr Khosrowshahi detailed organisational changes including a merger of operational and tech teams, and a reduction by nearly 50% in “micro-teams”-small groups where one or two employees report to a single manager. He also noted a 20% decrease in the number of staff positioned more than seven layers below the chief executive.
He concluded by acknowledging the difficulty of these decisions but expressed confidence that they will strengthen Uber moving forward.
In related news, Uber is preparing to launch self-driving taxis on UK roads for the first time, following a partnership with robotaxi company Wayve and recent approval from Transport for London.