In a bold move aimed at accelerating growth, Carl Pei, the CEO of British smartphone startup Nothing, announced the end of remote work for the company’s 450 employees. In an email sent to staff, Pei emphasized the importance of returning to the office five days a week to meet the company’s high ambitions, effective in two months.
Pei argued that while remote and hybrid work models have succeeded for some companies, Nothing’s vision requires a different approach. He highlighted three key reasons for the shift: the need for closer collaboration in developing physical products, the company’s goal to become a generation-defining tech brand, and the demand for high-speed innovation to compete with industry giants.
“We make physical products where design, engineering, and quality need to work closely together. This simply doesn’t work well remotely,” Pei wrote, stressing that the company’s rapid progress and potential can only be fully realized through in-person teamwork.
Pei acknowledged that the full-time office model might not suit everyone and suggested that employees who cannot commit to the new setup should consider finding environments better aligned with their work preferences. “We need people who want to go the full mile with us in the decades ahead,” he concluded.
The announcement underscores Nothing’s determination to redefine the smartphone industry while sending a clear message: the path forward demands full commitment and a shared vision.
