Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal has expressed his dissatisfaction with employee attendance at the company, sending out a ‘stern warning’ to team members after analyzing attendance data. In a widely circulated email, Aggarwal criticized employees for their poor attendance records, describing it as “shocking” and “disrespectful” to those who are diligently contributing to the company’s growth. This announcement comes on the heels of Ola’s decision to cut 500 jobs as part of a broader strategy to enhance operational efficiency and profitability.
Aggarwal stated during a recent post-quarterly earnings call that the company had experienced a reduction in operating expenses quarter-on-quarter. He reaffirmed that Ola is focusing on cost efficiencies, with an expectation that revenue will continue to grow while operating expenses remain stable or even decline in the coming quarters.
Direct Communication from CEO Bhavish Aggarwal
In his email to employees, Aggarwal wrote:
“Hi all, I’ve been going through our attendance data. It is shocking that a lot of people have very poor attendance. I would imagine everyone has the basic self-respect to not fleece the company by not even turning up for work. It’s even disrespectful to those colleagues who genuinely work hard and contribute. We don’t have any WFH policy except for genuine needs.
Monday onwards, a more stringent attendance expectation will start. Those of you who have misused the freedom so far, HR will be having a conversation with you. The best excuse I’ve heard so far is that the facial recognition system data is wrong. Let’s not insult basic intelligence.
Come to work, do good work, and feel a part of Ola’s mission.
Bhavish”
Wow. A really stern message from Ola founder @bhash to staff on work from office and poor attendance data, which he has been tracking.
Don't fleece the company by not showing up,per internal note.
In a related development, Ola Electric has announced its ambitious plans to expand its company-owned store network from 800 existing locations to 4,000 by December 20, 2024. Over 3,200 new stores are set to open, which will include service facilities to bolster the company’s service network across India. Bhavish Aggarwal highlighted that the strategy aims to extend Ola’s reach beyond tier-I and tier-II cities, supported by a new initiative to onboard 10,000 partners across sales and service by the end of 2025.
Adding to his recent interactions, Aggarwal also responded to an X user who shared a photo of a man utilizing the headlamp of an Ola scooter during a power outage. The tweet emphasized the scooter as a practical power source in emergencies. Aggarwal commented on this use case, noting that the upcoming “PowerPod” feature would address such needs more effectively. Users discussed ideas for integrating power sockets into the scooter for added functionality, while Aggarwal remarked on the progress of electric vehicles and expressed excitement for the innovations to come.
Diversification into Food Delivery
Recently, Aggarwal announced Ola’s entry into the quick food delivery market via the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) platform. He affirmed the company’s commitment to expanding services through this initiative, promising innovative offerings, including a rapid 10-minute food delivery service.
As Ola Electric continues to evolve and expand, Aggarwal’s focus on operational efficiency and employee accountability suggests a strong push towards organizational growth and innovation in the coming months.
I am Pragya Batu, a content writer currently interning at Repute Media/ Repute Today . I am preparing for a competitive exam for IIM . With a Microsoft cybersecurity certification and a knack for calligraphy, I bring creativity and technical knowledge to every piece I create. My goal is to craft content that informs, inspires, and leaves a lasting impact.
