Ola CEO’s Stern Warning to Employees on WFH Misuse Sparks Debate Online

“Bhavish Aggarwal’s email addressing poor office attendance draws mixed reactions on social media, with some praising his approach and others calling it overly harsh.”

December 22, 2024: A strongly-worded email allegedly sent by Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal to employees about their poor office attendance has gone viral on social media, sparking heated debates. The email highlights Mr. Aggarwal’s dissatisfaction with employees who he claims are misusing work-from-home flexibility and neglecting their duties.

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The viral email emphasises stricter attendance measures and warns employees against exploiting the system. “I’ve been going through our attendance data. It is shocking that a lot of people have very poor attendance,” Mr. Aggarwal reportedly wrote. “I would imagine everyone has the basic self-respect to not fleece the company by not even turning up for work. It’s even disrespectful to those colleagues who genuinely work hard and contribute.”

The CEO further stated that Ola does not have a formal work-from-home (WFH) policy except in cases of genuine need. “Monday onwards, a more stringent attendance expectation will start. And those of you who have misused the freedom so far, HR will be having a conversation with you,” he added.

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The email also addressed excuses for poor attendance. “The best excuse I’ve heard so far is that the facial recognition system data is wrong. Let’s not insult basic intelligence. Come to work, do good work, and feel a part of Ola’s mission,” he wrote.

While some netizens lauded Mr. Aggarwal for his no-nonsense attitude, others criticized his tone as unnecessarily harsh.

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One social media user argued, “Respect is a two-way street. When you value your job, you can expect value in return.” Another commented, “Just being physically present in the office doesn’t guarantee integrity or productivity. Employees need motivation, not micromanagement.”

Supporters of Mr. Aggarwal’s stance highlighted the importance of office attendance for collaboration and productivity. “When employees don’t even turn up to the office, the quality and productivity of work suffer. I’m in agreement with Bhavish on this one,” one user wrote.

The email has shone a spotlight on the challenges of balancing workplace flexibility with accountability, particularly in the evolving dynamics of post-pandemic work culture.

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Ola, Bhavish Aggarwal, work-from-home, WFH misuse, office attendance, workplace culture, CEO email, viral letter, employee accountability, workplace debates, remote work policy