By Carolyn Said
https://www.sfchronicle.com/author/carolyn-said/
Uber has lurched from existential crisis to existential crisis in its 11-year corporate history.
Now it confronts the biggest one yet. With people sheltering at home, demand for rides has plunged 80%. At the same time, it’s battling a California law that could reshape how it does business in its home state. Once a darling of investors, Uber now faces harsh scrutiny from Wall Street after a disappointing initial public offering last year.
On Monday the ride-hailing company laid off 3,000 staff members, on top of 3,700 positions it cut earlier this month. It has now axed 25% of its worldwide staff in less than two weeks.
Uber also is closing some 40 offices — including its Pier 70 office in San Francisco, which focused on self-driving technology. That will be consolidated with its forthcoming Mission Bay headquarters next to Chase Center, Uber said. It will move its Asian headquarters out of Singapore to an unspecified new location.
https://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/Uber-cuts-3-000-more-jobs-as-coronavirus-15277946.php