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Nubank fires Employees Following Protest Over Return-to-Office Policy

Nubank terminated the ⁤employment of‍ 12 individuals and issued warnings to others‍ this ⁤friday, February 7th, following employee protests⁤ against a ⁤new‍ return-to-office ⁣policy, ​according to sources ‍close to the bank. The decision was‌ announced in an internal statement where Nubank ⁤management stated⁣ they “welcome dissent,” but emphasized​ boundaries. “We are ready for feedback and resistance. This⁤ is a tough decision.But we draw​ a ⁢line in the sand against lack of respect and aggression.”

In response to inquiries regarding the protests and dismissals, Nubank affirmed its​ commitment to “preserve open channels and rituals for free debate among its employees, but does not tolerate disrespect and violations of conduct.” The ⁢company added, “Nubank does not comment on individual⁢ cases of ‌termination.”

The controversy stems from CEO ⁤David Vélez‘s‌ push to reinstate some in-person work. Estadão/Broadcast reports that human Resources cautioned Vélez​ that this​ change could provoke a negative reaction. Despite this warning, Vélez reportedly expressed surprise at the intensity of the employee response during a presentation ⁢outlining the new policy, with some participants stating they would seek employment elsewhere.

The announcement sparked widespread reaction, including hundreds of crying⁢ emojis on LinkedIn. Nubank had offered to assist affected employees with relocation, including covering one ⁣month’s rent,⁢ according ​to a company source.

The timing of the announcement also drew ⁣criticism. ​It followed an incident on Wednesday, February 5th, where a man suspected of ⁢robbery was ​fatally shot by ⁢a military police officer near ‌Nubank’s headquarters, and the officer was⁣ afterward stabbed. Some employees cited ⁢this event ⁣as a ⁢contributing factor to concerns ‌about returning to‍ in-person work.

Nubank’s internal statement on ⁢February 7th addressed⁤ the previous day’s​ events, stating, “Regrettably, yesterday​ [Thursday, February 6th] we witnessed unacceptable comments in our Zoom chat, which⁢ is a corporate channel and⁤ requires‌ professional ⁤behavior. ​These actions poison our ⁢habitat and impact every employee who‍ is trying to respectfully engage.”

Vélez, in announcing the policy change, acknowledged its difficulty but maintained ‌it was necessary, ​providing a lengthy‌ adaptation period. Nubank is currently renovating offices ‌and​ planning new locations ‌in cities like Belo Horizonte ​and rio ⁢de⁣ Janeiro. The new policy will require ⁢two days of⁢ in-office work per week starting⁤ in July ‌2026,increasing to three days per week in January 2027. Currently,⁤ Nubank operates ⁣primarily with a remote‌ workforce.

Vélez previously expressed concerns about the long-term effects of a primarily remote work environment, stating, ⁣”Over ⁢the past few years, I have repeatedly mentioned that I worry ⁤about our chosen primarily remote environment, as its benefits were very obvious, but ‍its costs were invisible.”