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The Covid-19 pandemic drastically changed the way we work, with <keyword id="20665553" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="remote-work" source="keywords">remote work</keyword> quickly becoming the new normal. Employees across the globe adapted to working from home, enjoying newfound flexibility and a better <keyword id="19901232" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="work-life-balance" source="keywords">work-life balance</keyword>. And for a long time, we all thought that this was the new world and going to the office every day would be a thing of the past. <br /><br />However, as pandemic restrictions eased, many companies began rolling back these remote policies, pushing employees to return to the office. Tech giant <keyword id="19904608" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Amazon" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Amazon" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Amazon">Amazon</keyword> recently ended remote work for its employees and told them to come to office five days a week, just like how it used to be before the pandemic. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, in a blog post, said that working from offices has its benefits and therefore all employees will have to start coming to work the entire week. He added that even though they will permit work from home in case of emergencies (taking care of your sick kid, running emergency errands etc), remote work will no longer be the norm. <br /><br /><h2>Companies are calling employees back to offices</h2>Amazon isn’t the only company that has implemented the <keyword id="20007258" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rto" source="keywords">RTO</keyword> (<keyword id="20408795" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="return-to-office" source="keywords">return to office</keyword>) mandate. Companies like <keyword id="19945574" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Wipro" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Wipro" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Wipro">Wipro</keyword>, TCS, X (earlier called Twitter) and Infosys also require employees to be there in office for at least three days a week. While X boss <keyword id="19903807" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Elon-Musk" source="keywords">Elon Musk</keyword> had once asked those seeking work from home to “get off of their moral high horse,” Infosys CEO N. R. Narayana Murthy had made headlines for saying that workers in India should work 70 hours per week. <br /><br />In wake of Amazon’s recent RTO mandate, many young professionals are reacting strongly on the internet. While some feel that the RTO mandate will hamper their productivity, others feel that it is simply unnecessary. And then there are also some people who think that this is a good decision. Let us take a look at how people are reacting on being called back to offices. <br /><br /><h2>How are people reacting?</h2>Social media sites like Reddit, X, and LinkedIn are full of reactions on the RTO mandate. Many employees feel that this will increase their cost and time spent on commute. <br /><br />Amazon’s recent decision to bring its employees back to offices has not sat well with many, especially those accustomed to the <keyword id="20445439" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="hybrid-work-model" source="keywords">hybrid work model</keyword>. On LinkedIn, Samrat Bhardwaj, who has previously interned with Amazon India, questioned the rationale behind the shift, asking whether the company truly considered employee well-being or was more focused on its own benefits.<br /><br />He also voiced concerns over the increased cost in case employees think of moving closer to tech hubs. He also added that if people start living at a distance from tech parks, rent will be lower, but you'll be wasting a lot of time to and fro from the office every day. <br /><br />On the other hand, Erin Mantz, a former Meta and Amazon employee, pointed out the stark difference between previous work norms and the flexibility of today's workforce in a LinkedIn post. <br /><br />“Gen Xers, for decades, used to have to go in every day... no working from home, no midday walks or being home for the dishwasher repairman,” she said, reflecting on how work-life balance has evolved.<br /><br />She concluded that the shift back to in-office work might not align with modern expectations, suggesting that today’s workforce has experienced a better way of working.<br /><br /><h2>“Working in the parking lot isn’t a bad idea”</h2>People aren’t just concerned about the increased cost and wastage of time in commute. Some also pointed out the irony of commuting to the office only to continue working in their cars due to a lack of proper space and resources. <br /><br />One Reddit user said, “Genuinely had no idea how bad RTO would be until it hit. I'm as unproductive as ever and half my work is done in the parking lot at this point for these exact reasons. Going back to the office isn't the end of the world, but when there's zero space or even disability accommodation for the employees? Unacceptable, especially considering the ones who usually enforce the arrangements all have their own private offices with the best gear their department offers.”<br /><br />Another user, Oracle-2050, quipped that working from their car was a makeshift solution, noting, "At least I can attend Teams meetings and make phone calls." <br /><br />The absurdity of the situation was highlighted by yet another commenter who sarcastically remarked, “Only in clown world would a worker drive to the office in order to do work in their car.” <br /><br />Another user pointed out that the decision-makers pushing these mandates “all have their own private offices with the best gear their department offers,” leaving regular employees to struggle in far less conducive work environments. <br /><br /><h2>The “Fake work” problem<br /></h2><br />Annie Dean, who earlier used to work as Director of Remote Work at Facebook, took a critical stance on LinkedIn, highlighting that return-to-office mandates don’t address the core problem which is “Fake work.” <br /><br />This term, popularised by Airbnb’s Brian Chesky, refers to tasks that feel like work but don’t actually create value for the business. <br /><br />Dean explained in her post that employees are drowning in endless meetings and messages, which detract from productivity. She argued that instead of mandating office attendance, companies like Amazon should focus on “pioneering new, more efficient modes of work.”<br /><br />This argument has resonated with many on X as well, where employees have expressed frustration over the return-to-office mandates being viewed as a quick fix. One Twitter/X user remarked that "commuting to do the same virtual meetings in person isn’t solving anything," while others echoed that the core problem lies in work structures, not location.<br /><br />Here are some other reactions on X:<br /><div type="image" title="negative reactions" msid="113528739" hostid="261" sizebytes="64721"></div><br /><h2>A quiet layoff strategy?<br /></h2><br />Yet another take on the RTO mandate comes from Jennifer DeLorenzo, a former senior recruiter at Pinterest. She suggested that the move feels like a “quiet layoff strategy.” <br /><br />According to her, by mandating full-time office attendance, companies may be hoping for a wave of resignations without having to deal with the negative press of formal layoffs. “This tactic allows them to reduce headcount while avoiding the negative optics of layoffs,” DeLorenzo wrote on LinkedIn, adding that it may backfire as hiring becomes challenging again when the economy shifts.<br /><br />Many others seemed to agree with her view. On Reddit too, there are many people talking about how companies might be carrying out soft layoffs by implementing an RTO mandate.<br /><br />Her comments tapped into a broader conversation on how companies may be using return-to-office mandates to indirectly reduce their workforce. Other social media users pointed out similar trends across industries, where companies tighten office attendance policies to nudge employees toward leaving voluntarily.<br /><br /><h2>Some mixed reactions too<br /></h2><br />While the return-to-office mandates are frustrating for many, not all reactions are negative. Some employees, particularly newer hires, see value in the traditional office setting. <br /><br />Bhardwaj, for example, also noted that going to the office is beneficial for freshers who want to learn. “I do believe that going to the office makes you learn a lot as freshers,” he wrote in his post, suggesting that for those early in their careers, the in-person experience might be crucial for growth and networking.<br /><br />Some users on X too seemed to be in support of this mandate. <br /><br />Here’s a look:<br /><div type="image" title="mixed-reactions" msid="113528718" hostid="261" sizebytes="77770"></div><br />This duality reflects the ongoing debate around the future of work. On one hand, companies like Amazon, Google, and Meta are focusing on building stronger in-office teams, believing that physical presence fosters better collaboration, innovation, and mentoring. On the other hand, employees, especially those who experienced the benefits of remote work during the pandemic, are pushing back against these mandates, valuing the flexibility and improved work-life balance that working from home provides.<br /><br />As companies continue to adjust their RTO policies, the tension between employee expectations and corporate strategies is likely to persist. However, one thing is clear — the future of work is still being negotiated, and both sides are making their voices heard across the internet.<br /><br /><br />

'I'm unproductive, this is not the real solution': Internet reacts as Amazon, Wipro and others call employees back to office

<div type="image" title="Companies are embracing the unbossing trend" msid="113256383" hostid="261" sizebytes="1440779"></div><br />If there’s one thing both a productive team member and an underperformer hates in the corporate world, it’s being micromanaged. Now, imagine a workplace where the boss isn’t calling all the shots. Instead, everyone has a voice, and innovation flows freely. The recent corporate trend of "Unbossing" promises to do just that, empowering employees by eliminating the heavy hands of hierarchy. <br /><br />Sounds too good to be true? Well, globally, not just the new-age start-ups, but dozens of major corporations have embraced this trend and trimmed their middle management.<br /><br /><h2>Managers managing managers — no more!</h2>In January last year, <keyword id="399907" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="META" source="Orion">Meta</keyword> CEO Mark Zuckerberg made headlines for declaring 2023 as the “year of efficiency” and saying that he doesn’t want a management structure that's just “managers managing managers”.<br />        <div type="image" title="Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg" agency="ANI" msid="113256403" hostid="261"></div><br />The same month, it was also reported by Command Line that Meta's chief product officer Chris Cox, had shared a post on the company's communication platform, Workplace, highlighting the necessity to "flatten" the organisation's structure. What followed was reports of Meta slashing middle management roles. Gradually, other companies like Shopify, Bayer, and Cisco began making headlines for showing the exit door to some of their middle managers.<br /><br />Loosely, unbossing is essentially cutting down the middle management roles. It cuts significant costs for the company and the new-age workforce also endorses the trend as efficient in enabling faster decision-making and innovation. However, critics argue this trend also limits the extent of mentorship that the younger generation receives while entering the workforce, which often remains an intangible value if your boss turns out to be a good mentor.<br /><br />Therefore, for some, it’s not about firing the middle management, but just another leadership philosophy on how leaders (and ‘bosses’) should conduct themselves. This approach advocates bosses working along with the team as a part rather than shouting instructions from the top.<br /><br />Whatever one’s understanding, this trend of “Unbossing” appears to be taking corporate America by storm in 2023, as evidenced by hundreds of media reports highlighting the same. Overall, most agree that the trend is restructuring organisational hierarchy to enable direct communication between employees and leaders.<br />Cut to 2024, this trend is still prevalent and making headlines. A Bloomberg report recently said that Georges Elhedery, the incoming CEO of HSBC Holdings, might also consider plans to streamline the company's operations by reducing layers of middle management.<br />But what’s the scenario in India? Are Indian companies ready to ditch the old-school approach and adopt this new way of working? Let’s dive in and see what the experts have to say!<br /><br /><h2>Layoffs to impact senior professionals: Naukri.com survey</h2>A survey by job portal Naukri.com early last year had suggested that recruiters in India expect a decline in layoffs during the first half of 2023. The survey, which included responses from 1,400 recruiters and consultants across ten industries, revealed that only 4 percent of participants anticipated layoffs to be the main focus of hiring activities within their organisations.<br /><br />However, the survey also highlighted that information technology roles and senior professionals were likely to be the most affected by hiring adjustments. About 20 percent of recruiters predicted that layoffs would predominantly impact senior professionals, while freshers are expected to face the least disruption from these hiring corrections. Interestingly the survey came around the same time when the Unbossing trend had begun picking up pace abroad.<br /><h2>Layoffs at Wipro, <keyword id="18635" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="amazon" source="Orion">Amazon</keyword> and Collegedunia</h2>In January this year, Wipro India was in the limelight for laying off hundreds of its mid-level executives. The company reportedly culled many jobs as part of its strategy to improve margins. An ET report citing two sources familiar with the situation had said that the leading Indian IT firm reduced mid-level roles at its onsite locations.<br />"Notices began being issued earlier this month, and hundreds of mid-level executives onsite are being let go," one source revealed. Another source added, "They have costly resources onsite in Capco, and although growth is returning, it's not sufficient. Aparna Iyer, Wipro's chief financial officer, has been tasked with delivering better margins this quarter."<br />        <div type="image" title="Amazon decided to lay-off middle managers in May" msid="113256170" hostid="261"></div>Then in May, Amazon also decided to reduce layers of middle management within its customer service divisions as part of an organisational restructuring, a Fortune report had said.<br />The cuts impacted over 100 customer service managers in Level 5 and Level 6 middle management roles, both in call centres and virtual positions, primarily based in the U.S. and India.<br />Not just large tech companies, startups too seem to be adapting the <keyword id="23125775" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="unbossing-trend-in-India" source="Orion">unbossing trend in India</keyword>. Last month, educational portal Collegedunia confirmed that around 100 employees from its Study Abroad department had been given the pink slip.<br />A report in CNBC-TV18 had said that additional job cuts were happening across other departments as part of a broader reorganisation. The restructuring, as per the report, was aimed at automating many tasks to reduce costs. Interestingly, despite the layoffs, Collegedunia had posted 13 job openings on LinkedIn for various roles in different locations, primarily entry-level positions requiring up to two years of experience.<br /><br />"While Collegedunia is laying off several employees, it is also hiring fresh talent, allowing them to keep staffing levels up but at a lower cost," one employee told CNBC-TV18 at the time.<br /><br />Another source confirmed that while Collegedunia had been actively recruiting for some months, it has also been letting go of employees, including senior staff members with 7-8 years of experience at the company.<br /><h2>What do experts say?</h2>      <div type="image" title="Experts&amp;#39; opinion on unbossing trend" msid="113256250" hostid="261"></div>Mr. Sumit Kumar, Chief Strategy Officer at TeamLease Degree Apprenticeship, told Business Insider India, “From the perspective of HR leaders and CEOs, the strategic culling of middle management is viewed as a means to streamline operations, reduce overhead, and foster a culture of autonomy and innovation.”<br /><br />He also noted that even though employees can “exercise greater ownership and agility in decision-making” through this approach, there are also significant downsides.<br /><br />“The erosion of middle management creates a vacuum in leadership development, mentorship, and the retention of institutional knowledge, potentially leading to disengagement, a weakened talent pipeline, and misalignment with organisational objectives,” Kumar noted.<br /><br />Talking specifically about the Indian scenario, he said, “Implementing this trend in India would be a strategic move, positioning organisations to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving business environment. However, to fully capitalise on this approach, developing a more robust talent pipeline that integrates the ability to multitask at all levels is imperative. In today's landscape, leadership demands thinkers, strategic visionaries, and individuals who can execute with precision. We need to cultivate a new breed of leaders who are both thinkers and doers, capable of navigating complex challenges while driving innovation and growth. By building versatile, agile leaders through targeted talent development programs, Indian organisations can ensure they are well-prepared to thrive in a decentralised, high-performance environment.”<br />RP Yadav, Chairman and Managing Director of Genius Consultants Limited, told ET recently that the Unbossing approach simplifies hierarchies and encourages open communication between frontline employees and senior management. He had added that the concept of “the oldest in the room is always the wisest of all” is no longer applicable.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Aditya Narayan Mishra, MD and CEO of CIEL HR Services told ET that the unbossing trend is predominantly seen in tech companies, creative roles, and startups, where swift decision-making and the unrestricted exchange of ideas are crucial. For example, the tech sector often thrives with flattened hierarchies that support rapid innovation and agility, while creative industries such as advertising and media use unbossing to cultivate a more collaborative and idea-focused environment.<br /><br />Thus, the unbossing trend is gaining traction beyond global companies and is finding its way into Indian organisations as well. While this approach can streamline operations, reduce costs, and enhance agility, experts caution that it also brings challenges, such as gaps in leadership development and the loss of institutional knowledge. To fully harness the benefits of unbossing, Indian companies must focus on cultivating agile leaders who can navigate complex challenges and drive growth. By building a strong talent pipeline and fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration, Indian organisations can position themselves to thrive in a more decentralised and dynamic business environment.<br /><br /><em>Do you have insights or personal experience to s hare on layoffs, <keyword id="34447" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="workplace-trends" source="Orion">workplace trends</keyword>, or career changes? Contact us at businessinsider@timesinternet.in.</em><br />

SIMPLY PUT: What’s with all “Unbossing” talks? Are Indian companies also embracing this global trend?

New Delhi, <keyword id="198245" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="wipro-consumer" source="Orion">Wipro Consumer</keyword> Care and Lighting on Tuesday announced the acquisition of three soap brands, Jo, Doy, and Bacter Shield, from VVF (India) Ltd for an undisclosed amount, a move that will help the company expand in the personal wash segment. This is the third acquisition by <keyword id="10862" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="wipro" source="Orion">Wipro</keyword> Consumer Care and Lighting, part of Azim Premji-led Wipro Enterprises, within the last 12 months and the 15th acquisition so far, as it is aggressively expanding its portfolio. <br /><br /> "The acquisition will be a strategic expansion for Wipro in the personal wash segment," said a statement from Wipro Consumer, which is among the leading players in the segment with sandalwood soap brand Santoor and female toiletries brand Enchanteur. <br /><br /> Jo toilet soap has a presence in North, East and West markets, Doy operates in the premium segment with differentiated positioning, and Bacter Shield has an antibacterial range of soaps and handwash. <br /><br /> "These brands together recorded a revenue of over Rs 210 crore during FY23," it said. <br /><br /> In FY23, Wipro's Santoor had become the second largest player in the segment in India with sales of over Rs 2,650 crore while Enchanteur has also crossed the 1,000 crore mark. <br /><br /> Earlier, Wipro Consumer Care, which has ambitions to become a formidable player in the fast-growing Indian food market, had acquired Nirapara and Brahmins. <br /><br /> Vineet Agrawal, CEO of Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting, said these brands complement the existing portfolio and will give a stronger foothold in the key markets. <br /><br /> "With a diverse array of brands and Wipro's robust distribution network, we are positioned to fortify our market presence and propel growth," said Agrawal, who is also Managing Director of Wipro Enterprises. <br /><br /> "The divestment of Jo, Doy, and Bacter Shield to Wipro aligns with our focus on optimising our portfolio and underscores our confidence in Wipro's ability to nurture and elevate these brands," VVF (India) (Earlier known as Vegetable Vitamins Foods Co) Chairman and Managing Director Rustom Godrej Joshi said. <br /><br /> Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting has crossed the milestone of Rs 10,000 crore in overall sales in FY23.

Wipro Consumer acquires 3 soap brands Jo, Doy and Bacter Shield from VVF

<ul><li>We are not the only ones seeing a dichotomy between volumes and revenues, said <keyword id="10862" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="wipro" source="Orion">Wipro</keyword> CEO.</li><li>He expects its large deal <keyword id="2415150" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="tcv" source="Orion">TCV</keyword> of $1.3 billion wins to drive quality revenue next year.</li><li>The typical pyramid of large and small deals has evolved, and small deals in the market are much fewer. <br /></li></ul><br />After Wipro posted a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/wipros-revenues-fall-2-pc-in-q2fy24-guides-for-a-steeper-fall-in-q3/articleshow/104527236.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">sequential revenue fall</a> for the third consecutive quarter, its CEO <keyword id="3808309" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="thierry-delaporte" source="Orion">Thierry Delaporte</keyword> said that it will see a rebound in the next few quarters. This was after the company said that its upcoming quarter’s constant currency revenues could fall anywhere between 1.5-3%, after its Q2 revenues fell 2%. <br /><br />“We are not the only one seeing a dichotomy between volumes and revenues. For several years, we have seen growth and in the last few quarters what we are seeing is reflective of the industry,” Delaporte said at the company’s <keyword id="56260" type="General" weightage="60" keywordseo="Q2-earnings" source="Orion">Q2 earnings</keyword> press conference. <br /><br />Like many of its peers, the Bengaluru-based IT major reported rampdowns, furloughs and reductions – that’s resulted in revenue leakage. The company, which has a larger exposure to consulting business in the BFSI segment, was hit harder than its peers. <br /><br />The constant currency revenues of its strategic business unit Americas 1 (healthcare, consumer goods, retail and Latin America etc) grew by 0.9% QoQ, its Americas 2 unit (banking, manufacturing, hi-tech, utilities and Canada) fell by 2.6%. <br /><br />Europe saw a steep fall of 5.4% sequentially. “Given our strong order booking in Europe, we’re confident of a swift rebound,” said Delaporte. <br /><br /><strong>Top-heavy deal book</strong> <br /><br />The company’s total bookings for the quarter stood at $3.8 billion. Its large deal total contract value (TCV) stood at $1.3 billion – which is the highest it has seen in the last nine quarters. <br /><br />“Our large deals will drive quality revenue for the next year,” he said, adding that he derives confidence from the number of large deals they have booked. <br /><br />Yet, the total number of new customers for the quarter were at 49, which is much lower than the 65 in Q1. On a year on year comparison, its new customer number fell over a half from 128. Its total number of active customers also fell both sequentially and on an annual basis to 1,393. <br /><br />Explaining this, Delaporte said that the typical pyramid of large and small deals has evolved. “There are a lot less of the very very small deals. It’s our strategy that we want to reduce the number of small clients and focus on large accounts and grow them. Because, a very large number of small deals are not predictive,” he said. <br /><br />The company kickstarted a programme three years back to improve its margins. Even in a difficult quarter, the company said that it was able to deliver a 10 basis point improvement in operating margin to 16.1%. It also promised that it will remain range-bound without any guidance for the quarters ahead. <br /><br />The company said that it is confident of discretionary spending coming back to the system which will set it back on the track. “It’s very important for Wipro to keep focus on key elements of transformation,” said Delaporte.<br />

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'I'm unproductive, this is not the real solution': Internet reacts as Amazon, Wipro and others call employees back to office

Divyanshi Sharma

SIMPLY PUT: What’s with all “Unbossing” talks? Are Indian companies also embracing this global trend?

Divyanshi Sharma

Wipro Consumer acquires 3 soap brands Jo, Doy and Bacter Shield from VVF

PTI

Wipro CEO expects revenues to rebound in the next few quarters

Katya Naidu

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