Chip maker Broadcom has sparked discussion regarding the return-to-office debate, following its recent $69 billion acquisition of cloud computing company VMWare and a blunt address to its newly acquired employees by CEO Hock Tan. Tan ordered employees of previously remote-friendly VMWare to report to the office if they live within 50 miles of a Broadcom office, emphasizing the importance of in-person collaboration and company culture.
There has been no specific feedback from employees regarding the mandate, but concerns about Broadcom’s remote work policies have been previously reported. The company has a history of defying remote work restrictions, even during the pandemic, and pushing for in-office work. However, other firms such as Atlassian, Dropbox, and Airbnb have remained committed to remote work.
Broadcom is among several companies reinstating in-office mandates, including Farmers Group and Amazon. However, some CEOs are instead offering incentives for in-office work, such as favorable assignments, raises, or promotions. The merger also brought about other areas of contention, including potential layoffs and differences in company culture. Additionally, there was uncertainty surrounding continued support for employee resource groups (ERGs) at Broadcom.
Even with these challenges, Broadcom and VMWare are working on integrating their cultures and operations as they move forward in their new partnership.
