Flipkart ends WFH policy, asks employees to work from office five days a week: Report

Walmart-owned Indian e-commerce giant Flipkart has ended its work-from-home (WFH) policy, requiring all employees to work from the office five days a week, Moneycontrol reported on Thursday, citing sources familiar with the matter.

"The new requirement now is for all employees, across functions and roles, to work from the office five days a week," Moneycontrol quoted an employee as saying.

The transition will occur in phases over the coming months, with exceptions for certain roles and a limited number of WFH days allowed, the report added.

A Flipkart spokesperson said the company’s field workforce has always operated on-site, and a gradual return to pre-COVID office levels over the past year has boosted collaboration.

"By returning to office, we aim to foster a strong sense of community for new hires and existing employees; and a shared focus on our common goal," the spokesperson was quoted as saying.

The decision comes as India’s e-commerce sector grows increasingly competitive.

Flipkart is among the last major e-commerce firms to end WFH, following Amazon, which mandated a five-day office return for its Bengaluru employees, in line with its plans to launch a rapid delivery service, and Meesho, whose staff have worked in-office for over a year.

In the quick commerce space, where Flipkart Minutes competes with Blinkit, Zepto, and Swiggy Instamart, rivals Blinkit and Zepto have already enforced full-time office attendance, while Swiggy maintains a hybrid model with three office days for most employees.