Nothing CEO Carl Pei has announced a full return to in-office work for the company’s London team. The announcement marks a significant shift from the hybrid model adopted during the pandemic. In an email sent to employees, Pei stated that the decision to ask employees to work from the office 5 days a week is crucial for the company’s future growth and innovation. He has also shared the complete email on his Linkedin account.

“We’ve come a long way in a short space of time,” Pei wrote. “We are the only company to have established a smartphone business in the last 10 years and the fastest-growing smartphone brand in India with a 567 per cent year-over-year growth. Yet, we are at 0.1% of our potential.”

Pei acknowledged that while remote or hybrid setups have worked for many companies, they are not conducive to the high level of ambition and speed required for Nothing to achieve its goals. He pointed out three key reasons for the shift: the need for close collaboration in creating physical products, the importance of creativity and innovation in beating larger competitors, and the company’s aspiration to become a generation-defining tech company.

“First of all, we make physical products where design, engineering, manufacturing, and quality have to collaborate closely together to deliver products to our users. This does not work well remotely,” Pei explained. He also noted that the company’s high ambition level is incompatible with remote work, as it requires fast-paced decision-making and problem-solving that is best done in person.

Pei addressed potential concerns about flexibility, reassuring employees that the company trusts them to manage their time effectively. “This is a company for grown-ups, so if you need to be out of the office to deal with some issues, we trust you to make the right decision,” he said.

The return to the office will take effect in two months, with Pei encouraging those who may not find this setup suitable to seek an environment where they can thrive. He concluded by
expressing confidence in the team’s ability to continue building the company’s future: “Thank you all for the progress we’ve made together so far, and I’m looking forward to learning, growing, and building the next stage of the company with you all.”

This move underscores Pei’s commitment to pushing Nothing toward its full potential, as the company aims to redefine the tech industry.