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.”