Uber CEO Has Required Weekend Email Responses
Dara Khosrowshahi says employees who fail to meet performance standards face dismissal.
Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Remote Work
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Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi has set an expectation for staff to respond to work emails throughout the weekend. The executive stated that employees who do not meet these performance demands will be dismissed.
Why it matters
The company maintains this demanding culture to ensure high financial performance and maintain productivity levels. Khosrowshahi considers a strong work ethic to be the most critical skill for professional success.
Uber generated $9.8 billion in free cash flow last year, a sharp turnaround from the annual losses of $2.5 billion to $3 billion the company faced before 2017.
The players
Dara Khosrowshahi
He has served as the CEO of Uber since 2017 and previously led Expedia Group.
Uber
This is a global technology company providing ride-hailing, food delivery, and freight transportation services.
The details
CEO Dara Khosrowshahi personally models this routine by checking emails at 9:30 pm and 5:30 am, while also sending work communications to his team on Saturdays and Sundays. He balances this schedule by setting aside two hours for family dinner before returning to his professional duties.
Timeline
Dara Khosrowshahi became CEO of Uber in 2017.
Uber generated $9.8 billion in free cash flow last year.
Market Landscape
This mandate aligns with the rise of high-intensity remote work cultures in tech firms. The move follows a pattern set by other major corporations aiming to sustain peak operational output.
Employees at the company now face direct pressure to monitor their communications during traditional off-hours to avoid potential termination. This shift necessitates that staff adjust their personal time to align with the company's rigorous performance expectations.
The takeaway
Maintaining a high-growth trajectory often involves significant sacrifices regarding work-life balance for employees. Professionals in high-stakes industries may find that their personal schedules are increasingly integrated with corporate demands.
Further reading
Learn more about evolving office expectations in the Remote Work section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Hindustan Times.
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