Walmart-owned Flipkart has officially ended its work-from-home policy, instructing all employees to return to the office five days a week, according to a report from Moneycontrol. This move marks the conclusion of a four-year period of remote and hybrid work, which began during the Covid-19 pandemic. Flipkart initially offered flexibility to its employees during the pandemic, much like many other tech and retail firms, as the global workforce adapted to the new challenges of working from home.
However, over the past year, Flipkart has been gradually rolling back the remote work policy, starting with senior executives before expanding the mandate to all employees. This decision will apply to all roles and functions, signifying a return to pre-pandemic working conditions.
The company confirmed that the transition to full-time office work will occur in phases over the coming months. Despite the return-to-office requirement, Flipkart has stated that exceptions may be made depending on the nature of the work. Employees will also have the option to work from home for a limited number of days each year, allowing some flexibility in their schedules.
A company spokesperson emphasized that the move is aimed at improving collaboration and fostering a stronger sense of community within teams, especially among newer employees. The spokesperson pointed out that, over the past year, as employees gradually returned to the office, Flipkart has seen increased synergies and deeper collaboration within teams, signaling the benefits of in-person interactions.
Flipkart's decision to end its work-from-home policy comes amid growing competition in India’s fast-evolving e-commerce and quick commerce sectors. Rival Amazon has already mandated a five-day workweek for its India workforce and is in the process of moving to a larger office in Devanahalli, Bengaluru.
In addition, Meesho has already brought its employees back to the office full-time over a year ago, while other quick commerce firms such as Blinkit and Zepto have adopted in-office work models. Swiggy, however, remains one of the few companies still offering a hybrid setup, with employees working three days in the office and two days remotely, though some teams are required to come in daily based on the nature of their roles.
As Flipkart joins other major companies in rolling back remote work policies, this marks a significant shift in the post-pandemic workplace landscape, particularly for tech and e-commerce sectors.
