Office return policy update

As firms push for in-person work, employees push back with new tactics that test return-to-office plans.

Return to Office Push Meets Resistant Workforce Across Wall Street and Tech Giants

Big companies are asking workers to come back to offices. In response, some employees use coffee badging to limit their in-person time. They show up to grab a coffee and greet colleagues, then work from home. A recent report says three-quarters of companies complain about this behavior. Samsung set up a monitoring tool to track attendance and stop coffee badging. Amazon has held one-on-one talks with repeat offenders.

Google now requires at least three days a week in the office. TD Bank asks for four days. JPMorgan Chase leaders have warned that homeworking can hurt younger workers. The federal government is pushing for more in-person work. For the first time since the pandemic, more than half of Fortune 100 employers expect five days a week in the office.

This push shows a clash between the promise of hybrid work and the social value of face-to-face contact. Young workers say office time helps their careers, while leaders worry about losing collaboration. The risk is that heavy monitoring could damage trust and hurt morale.

Policy choices here will shape hiring, real estate, and city life for years. If more firms require five days or use strict monitoring, workers may seek jobs elsewhere. The trend could widen gaps between big firms and smaller ones and influence where people choose to live and work.

Highlights

The office debate is far from settled and will shape work culture for years to come.