Zoho founder and Chief Scientist Sridhar Vembu has said the company will not expand work-from-home arrangements despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent appeal to reduce fuel consumption through remote work and virtual meetings.
Vembu stated that after internal discussions, Zoho concluded that face-to-face collaboration remains more effective, especially for research and development teams.
Zoho Says In-Person Collaboration Works Better
According to Vembu, productivity and problem-solving improve significantly when employees work together physically rather than remotely.
He said issues often take longer to resolve in remote environments because teams are unable to collaborate as fluidly as they do in offices. The company believes direct interaction leads to faster solutions and better innovation outcomes, particularly for technical and product development teams.
PM Modi Recently Encouraged Remote Work
The remarks come after Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged businesses and citizens to adopt fuel-saving measures amid rising global uncertainty and higher energy costs linked to tensions in West Asia.
The Prime Minister suggested wider use of work-from-home arrangements, virtual conferences, online meetings, public transport, and reduced unnecessary travel as part of efforts to lower fuel consumption and reduce pressure on imports.
Zoho Earlier Indicated It May Revisit WFH
Interestingly, earlier reports had suggested Zoho was open to reconsidering partial work-from-home policies after Modi’s appeal. Vembu had previously stated that the company would revisit remote work discussions internally.
However, after further internal feedback and discussions, the company ultimately decided not to expand WFH arrangements at this stage.
Sustainability Measures Still Under Consideration
While rejecting broader remote work expansion, Zoho said it is still exploring alternative sustainability measures to reduce fuel usage and environmental impact.
Vembu revealed that the company is considering electric bus fleets for employee transportation, electric cooking systems in office canteens, and further investments in solar energy infrastructure.
Debate Over Workplace Culture Continues
The development reflects the broader debate within India’s technology sector regarding hybrid work, office culture, and productivity after the pandemic period.
Some companies continue offering hybrid or remote flexibility, while others increasingly prefer office-based operations for collaboration, training, innovation, and team coordination.
The conversation has also gained importance as companies navigate rising operational costs, AI-driven workplace changes, and shifting employee expectations across the technology industry.
Summary
Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu said the company will not expand work-from-home arrangements despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to reduce fuel consumption through remote work. Zoho stated that face-to-face collaboration remains more effective for research and development teams. Instead of broader WFH policies, the company plans sustainability measures including electric transport systems and increased solar energy investments.
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