Synergon informed remaining staff this week that they must return to the office five days a week to restore the spontaneous collaboration the company had identified as essential, three months after laying off the colleagues those employees would have collaborated with.
In a memo, chief executive Bryce Vantage said there was no substitute for the energy of a full room, a sentiment he delivered by hologram from his home in a different time zone. Employees who pointed out that their teams now consisted of one person were encouraged to collaborate with themselves and to copy leadership on any breakthroughs.
The company has converted the vacated desks into a wellness space, which is currently locked.