The double standard of Zoom: promoting flexible work while requiring employees to return to the office.

CTOnews.com, August 6 (Xinhua)-- Zoom, a videoconferencing service company, was widely welcomed and used during the outbreak, became synonymous with telecommuting and was one of the main promoters and beneficiaries of telecommuting. Recently, however, Zoom asked some of its employees to return to the office on a regular basis.

Employees who live within 50 miles of Zoom offices must work in the office at least two days a week to communicate with their teams, according to Zoom. A spokesman for Zoom said in a statement: "We believe that a structured hybrid work approach-that is, employees living near the office need to come to the office two days a week to interact with their team-is the most effective for Zoom. As a company, we can make better use of our own technology, continue to innovate, and support our global customers."

The reason for the change in Zoom's attitude may be related to its performance and share price. In 2020, Zoom's sales soared and its share price rose at least sixfold as millions of employees were stranded at home. But by 2021, as the epidemic eased and more and more companies began to push employees back to the office, Zoom's demand for videoconferencing services declined, its revenue growth slowed and its share price plummeted. Since then, the company has lost at least $100 billion in market value.

Nevertheless, Zoom emphasizes the importance of flexible work in its marketing materials. According to a survey commissioned by Zoom, 43 per cent of employees believe that flexible work is not a benefit but a basic expectation, while 70 per cent said they would consider leaving their current job to find a more flexible working environment.

Last year, Zoom said less than 2 per cent of its employees worked in the office. "We will continue to use the entire Zoom platform to keep our employees in touch with dispersed teams and work efficiently," the spokesman said.