WPP, the British advertising giant, has sent a memo to its staff requiring them to spend an average of four days a week in the office starting April. The move marks a shift towards more traditional office arrangements, following a trend among large corporations that are scaling back flexible work policies.
The company, which owns creative agencies Ogilvy and GroupM, employs over 114,000 employees worldwide. CEO Mark Read believes that face-to-face interaction is key to productivity, but staff will be given flexibility for caring responsibilities, health issues, and other considerations.
This decision follows similar moves by other major companies, including Amazon, Boots, BT, and Santander. Experts warn that the shift may impact remote workers, who could lose out on job opportunities if they are perceived as being less committed to their roles.
As 2025 progresses, it’s likely that employers will aim for a balance between employee satisfaction and office presence requirements. This could lead to companies becoming more decisive about their flexibility policies.
Source: https://fortune.com/europe/2025/01/07/wpp-sweeping-rto-mandate-4-days-a-week