In the 20 months I have been at Checkout I have had 4 line managers; I have also witnessed the layoff of ~250 people, often with immediate effect and in some cases incredibly uncouth circumstances - Record Growth announcement and then announcing the shutting down of Porto and Berlin offices two weeks before Christmas? Checkout has you covered.
You see, the issue here lies solely at the feet of the CEO. Look at the list of the ever changing leadership and higher management team. No ones sticks around because, as others have pointed out, if you challenge his decision with good reason (logic, expertise, informed) and he doesn't agree you're basically cutting short your time at CKO. This is immediately reflected in the Return To Office policy and the CEOs obsession with having everyone in office. The CEO has effectively ignored the warnings heeded around talent retention, employee morale (No mention of the latest employee survey data after month upon month of decline in scores) and additional costs (transformation of space, swag to silence the unease, additional food costs) to try and deliver a policy that is driven by nothing but his own unfathomable ego.
"If people don't like it, work elsewhere"
"To show my commitment to this, I will be moving back to London" (Of course you will, you can afford a nanny to look after your kids and you're not exactly going to struggle to buy a house are you Mr Billionaire).
I have no doubt he knows about the product and tech but if he was CEO on a board he would've been given his marching orders long ago.
As others have mentioned he is playing with lives; I regret ever working for this company and the blame lies solely at his door.
No decision ever seems to be informed, or long term, or strategic in thinking. The CKO cultists pride themselves on the company "adaptability, agility and flexibility" which covers up the lack of identity, sustainability long term credibility.
For the sake of your own sanity, value and inner peace. Avoid.
