A growing trend among CEOs and President Trump is pushing federal employees back into the office five days a week. Amazon, JPMorgan, and AT&T have already announced full return-to-office plans, while some workers are embracing the move after feeling isolated working from home during the pandemic.
In recent weeks, calls to end remote work have intensified, with authority. President Trump signed an executive order requiring federal department heads to terminate remote work arrangements and mandate in-person work for all federal employees five days a week. He warned those who refused would be dismissed.
Some CEOs who initially advocated for flexible remote work arrangements are now reversing their stance. Amazon instructed most workers to return to the office five days a week, starting January 2, citing the need for collaboration and company culture. JPMorgan announced its full-time in-office approach in March, stating it would support better mentorship and brainstorming.
However, not all employers are adopting this trend. Data from Stanford shows that over a quarter of paid full days in the US are worked remotely, with nearly half of remote workers saying they’d consider leaving their jobs if flexibility is taken away. Yelp, an investment firm, has bucked broader trends by allowing employees to work fully remotely, resulting in record revenue and reduced turnover.
The commercial real estate industry remains optimistic about office occupancy rates, which are still lower than pre-pandemic levels but showing a positive trend. Wharton Property Advisors’ CEO Ruth Colp-Haber attributes the momentum to big companies pushing for five days a week back in the office.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/21/business/return-to-office-remote-work.html