Itaú Case: Mass Layoffs Reignites Debate on the Future of Remote Work

The dismissal of around 1,000 remote workers by Itaú on Monday, based on computer usage logs, stirred the market and reignited the debate on how companies have been evaluating productivity and performance of their employees. The episode sparked discussions about the limits of digital monitoring and even about the future of remote work, a practice that gained momentum during the pandemic and remains in place for some companies. Experts interviewed by InfoMoney point out that large corporations, especially in the financial sector, have been encouraging a return to in-person or hybrid work models. According to lawyer Henrique Soares Melo, from NHM Advogados, remote work is a legitimate modality, but its adoption “depends solely on the employer’s decision, whether in full-time or hybrid mode”.