An Indian-origin CEO, Ankur Nagpal, has sparked a debate on LinkedIn after announcing a unique work policy for his startup. The policy allows employees to work from anywhere in the world for one month—February—while requiring them to be in the office for the remaining 11 months.
Nagpal shared his excitement about spending February in Morocco, while some of his team planned to work from beaches or ski slopes.
However, the policy received widespread criticism, with many users questioning its flexibility. Critics argued that the policy does not cater to employees with children, elderly parents, or other familial responsibilities. One LinkedIn user called it a “dumb policy” for those with kids, prompting Nagpal to admit that no one in his New York team had children. This statement led to accusations of biased hiring practices.
Others highlighted the financial and logistical challenges of leaving families behind for a month, suggesting the policy favours a specific demographic. Users pointed out that labelling it as ‘flexible’ was misleading, as 11 months of mandatory in-office work went against the very concept of flexibility.
Many commentators emphasised that fully remote companies often attract higher-quality candidates with varied life situations, including families. Many agreed that the policy could limit the talent pool to individuals without significant personal responsibilities.
Nagpal, a University of California, Berkeley alumnus and founder of investment firm Carry, now faces calls to rethink his approach. While his intentions may have been to offer a unique perk, the backlash highlights the importance of considering employee diversity and practical challenges when designing workplace policies.
