Canadian billionaire Kevin O’Leary believes that young professionals who deliver results can succeed regardless of whether they work remotely or from an office. Speaking about Gen Z employees, the founder of O’Leary Ventures said performance and the ability to complete assigned tasks matter more than physical presence at the workplace. During a recent interview with Fox News, O’Leary said,
The investor, whose teams work across London, Los Angeles and Canada, said the ability to is not tied to where someone works. he said.
O’Leary, known for appearing on Shark Tank, said he has seen employees advance based on their ability to deliver results. He pointed to a staff member who joined his organisation in the United Arab Emirates about a year and a half ago and progressed quickly because “the kid can execute.”
His remarks come as companies continue to push employees back to offices after years of remote work following the pandemic. Amazon began enforcing full-time return-to-office policies in the technology sector last year, and other companies have followed suit.
For instance, Instagram required many employees to return to the office five days a week as part of CEO Adam Mosseri’s effort to build a “winning culture,” while Microsoft asked workers in the Seattle area to work in the office three days a week.
Corporate leaders have argued that in-person work supports collaboration and relationship building. However, a Harvard study last year found that workers were willing to accept a 25% pay cut when comparing fully remote or hybrid roles with jobs that require full-time office attendance.
O’Leary said that in what he described as an execution-driven economy, employees who consistently deliver results tend to advance because of their work ethic rather than where they work.
he added.
Canadian billionaire Kevin O’Leary dismisses claims about remote work leading to loneliness
O’Leary also rejected the idea that remote work necessarily leads to isolation. He said loneliness is not a new issue and argued that
His recent remarks add to earlier criticism of return-to-office mandates and his views on hiring talent. In 2022, O’Leary said that 55% of the 10,000 people working across more than 50 of his portfolio companies had not returned to the office. By January, about 40% were still working remotely.
he explained. In a January video, O’Leary added that companies that insist on office attendance face challenges in hiring.
he highlighted.
