Uber CEO sends emails to employees on weekends, warns about company's work culture: ‘Don't come here if…’

Uber CEO explains intense company culture and expectations from employees

For many people, the weekend is a time to switch off and step away from emails. But at Uber, the expectation can be different. The company’s chief executive has suggested that staying connected to work, even on Saturdays and Sundays, can be part of the culture.

Dara Khosrowshahi recently opened up about the company’s demanding work environment, saying employees should be prepared to work hard and remain responsive outside traditional office hours. He spoke about these expectations during an appearance on The Diary of a CEO.

During the discussion with host Steven Bartlett, Khosrowshahi explained that he often contacts his team over the weekend as part of keeping work moving. Describing how he communicates with employees outside the usual workweek, he shared an example of his own approach to weekend emails. He said, “Part of working hard is sending emails to the team on a Saturday…And if I don’t get a response on Saturday, sending them an email on Sunday with a question mark. What’s going on?”

Khosrowshahi became CEO of Uber in 2017 after previously leading the online travel company Expedia Group. Reflecting on his earlier role, he said the work culture there was intense, although the nature of the business shaped how employees viewed rest and work-life balance.

Looking back at his experience at Expedia, he explained, “At Expedia, in hindsight, we worked intensely and went hard, but not as hard as I’d like. Because Expedia was selling vacations, the product we were selling was about turning yourself off. So we did talk about work-life balance.”

Speaking about the expectations within the company, Khosrowshahi said people who join Uber should be prepared for a demanding pace and clear performance standards. He explained, “At Uber, it’s different. You come to Uber, you’re going to work your a*s off. We’re going to be really demanding. If you’re not performing, we’re going to let you know. And if you don’t fix it, we’re going to push you out.”

Despite the pressure, the Uber chief believes the company offers employees the chance to make a real impact and grow in their careers. He added that people working hard will have a great future ahead, “But while it will be incredibly hard, you will have real agency at the company. We’re a big company, but individuals can make a big difference, and it’s a company that’s making a difference in the world. You’re going to learn so much, and while you will have worked hard, you’re going to have a great time.”

Khosrowshahi also made it clear that the company may not suit those looking for a relaxed work environment. He said he prefers to be direct about the expectations employees should have before joining the company. “But don’t come here if you want to coast. I’m very clear about that. And I should have been clearer at Expedia, but we were selling vacations, so I couldn’t be quite that direct,” he said.

The CEO also spoke about the value he places on hard work in his own life. Khosrowshahi said he himself works hard, teaches his kids to do the same, and wants his employees to live by the same principle. He expressed, “I want that in our company. I want Uber to be an incredibly hard-working company.”

During the interview, Bartlett asked whether such a demanding work culture comes with personal costs. Responding to the question, Khosrowshahi acknowledged that working hard often involves trade-offs, but said flexibility can still exist alongside strong expectations. He explained, “It comes at a trade-off. And we believe in flexibility. So people confuse lack of flexibility with working hard. You can work hard, and at the same time you can have flexibility.”

He further added, “So if you want to have dinner with your family, and I’m religious about having dinners with my family when I’m in town, 6 to 8, absolutely, spend that time with my family. But at 9:30 pm I’m checking emails. When I wake up at 5:30 am, I’m checking emails. So of course there are trade-offs, and life is about trade-offs.”