December 3, 2023 Broadcom’s CEO Hock Tan is shaking things up in the world of work-from-home policies. After Broadcom’s $69 billion acquisition of VMWare, Tan didn’t mince words with his new employees: “If you live within 50 miles of an office, you get your butt in here.” This directive was part of a meeting following the merger’s completion, which had just received the green light from Chinese regulators.
Tan, like many executives, champions in-person work for its benefits in collaboration and company culture. However, this stance isn’t without controversy. Broadcom, known for its rigid stance on remote work even during the pandemic, contrasts sharply with companies like Atlassian, Dropbox, and Airbnb, who continue to support remote work. The tech world watches as Broadcom navigates integrating VMWare’s culture, which included support for employee resource groups (ERGs) – a concept Tan humorously called “alien” but is open to considering. Amidst these changes, Broadcom also faces the challenge of layoffs and cultural integration post-merger.
Sources include: Fortune
