Coronavirus Remote Layoffs: 3-Minute Zoom Calls Ended 3,500 Uber Jobs

Coronavirus-hit Uber remotely laid off 3,500 customer service and recruitment employees using the popular teleconference software Zoom last week. Company manager Ruffin Chevaleau, who “wanted to deliver this news personally," informed his reports of the firings in emotional three-minute calls.

"Our rides business is down by more than half," Chevaleau told some of these employees in one live video phone call. "As a result, we are eliminating 3,500 frontline customer support roles."

Although done without prior notice as some of the employees claimed, the job cuts were not entirely unexpected. Uber announced in a regulatory filing last week that it would be freezing its hiring and cutting around 14% of its global workforce. The announcement came after the news of its whopping $2.9 billion loss from the pandemic.

Working from home is the new normal for most employees, but on the flip side, this set-up can also mean that terminations are now done virtually. The firings showed the other side of apps like Zoom, which allowed companies to hold meetings and bring employees together during the pandemic.

In a statement, Uber justified its reason for its remote terminations. “It’s never easy or uncomplicated to let employees go, and that’s only been more true during this unprecedented period, where we are all working from home across dozens of cities and countries. We’ve focused on providing the clearest, most empathetic experience possible and have put together a strong severance package and other benefits,” the company explained.

The layoffs are only one of the many efforts that Uber has made to stay afloat. Recently, the company invested in millions of scooters in hopes of shedding a sizable portion of its cash losses. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi would also be giving up his base salary.