Mandatory return to office by major companies
Amazon: Full Office return by January 2024
Amazon has been at the forefront of reversing remote work policies. CEO Andy Jassy announced in a memo that corporate employees must return to the office full-time starting January 2, 2024. He emphasized the benefits of in-person collaboration and how it strengthens the company’s culture. The announcement comes after a previous order that required employees to spend at least three days a week in the office. However, some employees expressed disappointment, calling the move “much stricter” than pre-pandemic times.
Apple: Hybrid work with 3 days of work in the office
Apple has resumed face-to-face work with a hybrid schedule from August 2022. Employees are required to be in the office at least three days a week. CEO Tim Cook emphasized the importance of “personal collaboration” despite opposition from some employees who petitioned against the change. The hybrid model remains in effect, even though some employees argue that exceptional work can be accomplished remotely.
BlackRock: Focus on career development
Global investment firm BlackRock has mandated a four-day office work week. In a memo, executives stressed the importance of in-person moments for career development, especially during events that impact the market. The company also gives employees some flexibility, offering remote work for two weeks annually. The firm works from its newly leased office space in New York, which spans 1 million square feet across 15 floors.
Chipotle: 4-Day Work Week
Chipotle introduced a four-day office workweek for corporate employees in the summer of 2022. Previously, employees had to work three days in the office. The shift to four days emphasizes the company’s belief in in-person collaboration for corporate productivity.
Citigroup: Hybrid and full-time return policies
Citigroup adopted a hybrid work model for many employees, allowing remote work two days per week. However, in May 2023, the company mandated that 600 employees return to the office full-time, which is in line with a broader trend among financial institutions such as HSBC and Barclays. This is a change from their previous policy, which allowed more flexibility for remote work.
Disney: 4-day office work week for hybrid employees
In January 2023, Disney CEO Bob Iger mandated a return to the office for hybrid workers, requiring them to spend four days a week on-site. The policy was met with opposition, with over 2,300 employees signing a petition arguing that the mandate would slow the company’s post-COVID recovery. Despite the opposition, the policy was implemented, as Iger emphasized the need for in-person collaboration.
Goldman Sachs: strict order in the office
Goldman Sachs was one of the earliest to adopt a strict RTO policy. By March 2022, employees were required to return to the office five days a week. Despite some non-compliance after a year of the policy, CEO David Solomon reiterated the need for office attendance, citing the benefits of in-person collaboration for the financial industry.
Google: Office presence linked to performance
Google began calling employees back to the office in April 2022, requiring them to work in person at least three days a week. In 2023, the company tightened its RTO policy by linking office attendance to employee performance reviews. Google now allows full-time remote work only in exceptional cases, indicating a greater focus on office collaboration.
IBM: Managers must move or resign
IBM has taken a strict approach to RTOs, especially for managers. The company has mandated that all US-based managers must work from an office or client location three days a week. Additionally, employees must live within 50 miles of an IBM office or client site. Those who were unable to adhere to this by the deadline were asked to relocate or separate from the company. CEO Arvind Krishna indicated that career advancement may be more challenging for those working remotely.
JPMorgan: Managing director returns full-time
JPMorgan announced in April 2023 that all managing directors would have to work from the office five days a week. Despite opposition from some employees, CEO Jamie Dimon has stuck to this policy. He said that although he understands the inconvenience of long commutes, employees should return to the office or find jobs elsewhere.
Meta: Strict office policies and threats of termination
Meta updated its remote work policies in September 2023, requiring employees to be in the office three days a week. The company further emphasized compliance by tracking daily attendance, with failure to comply possibly resulting in termination. Some frustration has been seen among employees with the attempted return to the office due to a lack of adequate office space.
Redfin: 2 days a week for HQ employees
Real estate company Redfin has launched its return-to-office policy in 2023. Employees who live within 20 miles of Redfin’s offices in Seattle, San Francisco and Frisco will have to work in the office full time on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Those who live farther away will have to go to the office once a quarter.
Salesforce: Role-specific office mandates
Salesforce has gradually increased office attendance requirements. By October 2023, select employees in sales, engineering, and customer-facing roles will be required to be in the office four to five days a week. The company continues to refine its RTO strategy based on employee feedback.
Snap: Shift from “remote first” to 4 days a week
Snap, previously a “remote-first” company, has required employees to return to the office four days a week starting in 2023. The company has implemented WiFi tracking to monitor employee compliance with the mandate.
Tesla: Absence means resignation
Tesla implemented a strict RTO policy in June 2022, requiring employees to work at least 40 hours a week in the office. CEO Elon Musk made it clear that failure to comply would result in resignation. He argued that Tesla’s success is due to his presence in factories, and he expects the same commitment from employees.
X (formerly Twitter): No remote work
After acquiring X in 2022, Elon Musk ended the company’s remote work policy. Employees were required to work in the office for at least 40 hours a week, unless they were given explicit permission to work elsewhere. Those who did not come to the office were considered to have resigned.
Uber: Half-time office work
Uber has required its employees at 35 locations to return to the office at least half-time starting in April 2022. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi has linked the decline in remote work to a drop in regular customers for the ride-hailing company.
Walmart: Relocating employees to central hubs
In addition to layoffs, Walmart has required employees who previously worked remotely to relocate to central hubs, including its headquarters in Arkansas. Hybrid work schedules are still allowed, but most employees are expected to be in the office on a regular basis.
Zoom: Remote work darling calls employees back
Zoom, a key player in the era of remote work, updated its policies in 2022, asking employees who live within 50 miles of their office to return to work part-time. The change marks the company’s move away from fully remote work as it adapts to changing business needs.
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