Spotify, what is with the illogical unwritten WFH Policy

I recently applied to a few Spotify teams seeing as they were listed as either New York or Remote Americas, and that their policy is that you can work from anywhere in the region. I was contacted a few days later by a recruiter who wanted to begin the interview process. But as a note at the end of the email to schedule a call, it said that they were requiring the candidate to live in the Eastern Timezone. Not even in New York where the office is located, just the same timezone.

Ok, well I thought it was remote? Seeing as I live in the Midwest and I am not looking to move, I figured I'd ask if I can just start work one hour earlier. The recruiter then comes back after talking to leadership, and says that leadership wants the person to live in the Eastern timezone...

I literally do not understand what's the point of having the candidate live in the same time zone if they live only one hour behind. Like if they required you to be in the office, then I would get moving to New York. But anywhere on the east coast? Wut?

The recruiter was at least helpful and said he would take a look at other teams. But basically came back and said the other teams wanted someone who lived on West Coast (PST) or East Coast (EST).

Guess I can't wake up one hour early or two hours later. It's impossible.

It's hilarious cause I can drive 30 minutes, and be in the eastern timezone lmao

#spotify