Elon Musk Ends Remote Work at Twitter

New Twitter CEO Elon Musk recently ceased remote work at Twitter. In other words, staff must return to the office to continue working. 

Musk said the social media company needs “intense work” in the office to make up for dwindling profits. He said the platform lost advertisers, causing “a massive drop in revenue.”

He wrote the following statement in a company-wide email: “We are . . . changing Twitter policy such that remote work is no longer allowed unless you have a specific exception.”

More details about remote work at Twitter

Photo Credit: techcrunch.com

The email memo required employees to go to the office for a minimum of 40 hours weekly. However, it pointed out a few exceptions.

They may opt for remote work at Twitter if they have “a critical personal obligation” or are “physically unable to travel.” 

Moreover, Elon Musk told managers to compile lists of employees seeking to continue working from home. After removing nearly half of the company’s 7,500 employees, he implemented this change.

In response, many senior executives have left, raising concerns over data security and adherence to privacy rules. 

On Thursday, the US Federal Trade Commission announced that it was “tracking recent developments at Twitter with deep concern.”

The FTC ensures that Twitter follows the consent decree it signed in 2011, pledging to improve data protection. 

The government regulator said, “No CEO or company is above the law, and companies must follow our consent decrees.”

“Our revised consent order gives us new tools to ensure compliance, and we are prepared to use them.”

Moreover, a company lawyer warned in Twitter’s Slack channel that the new CEO was taking a “cavalier attitude” to privacy regulations.

The lawyer warned that the company might face significant penalties from the FTC as a result. Meanwhile, employees felt frustrated with Musk removing remote work at Twitter.

They moved farther away from the office due to the COVID pandemic. Now, they would have to face long commutes.

Former CEO Parag Agrawal said in March 2022 that staff may work from home “full-time forever.”

Conclusion

The company’s former European vice-president had reservations about removing remote work at Twitter. Bruce Daisley said,

“It is an easy management mistake to conclude that employees working from home are less productive or collaborative than those in the office . . . [but] remote workers work more, not less.”

Meanwhile, other social media companies retain their flexible work options. For example, TikTok employees only need to return to the office for at least two days a week.