Return-to-office (RTO) means asking employees to come back and work from the office, either full-time or just a few days a week as part of a hybrid schedule.
After a few years of remote and flexible work, many companies are now asking employees to return to office, and big names like Amazon, Google, JPMorgan Chase, and Walmart are leading the way.
In this article, we’ll take a look at which major companies have already returned to the office, what their RTO policies look like, and why they’re making these changes. We’ll also keep this list updated as more companies announce new RTO plans — so check back regularly to stay in the loop.
Guide to RTO companies
Companies returning to the office in 2025
- Amazon
- AT&T
- Walmart
- The Washington Post
- JPMorgan Chase
- Dell
- WPP
- Bank of New York Mellon
- Uber
- Intel
January 2025
Amazon
Amazon asked all its corporate employees to return to the office full-time, five days a week, starting in January 2025. CEO Andy Jassy said this move would help build a stronger company culture and make teamwork easier.
Not everyone was thrilled, though. Some employees had already pushed back in earlier years, even holding walkouts and signing petitions. On top of that, the return didn’t go smoothly everywhere. Some offices just didn’t have enough desks, so in cities like New York and Atlanta, the rollout was delayed by a few months.
Interestingly, Amazon has been a bit more flexible in some parts of Europe, like the UK and the Netherlands, where hybrid work is still allowed.
AT&T
In January 2025, AT&T brought all of its office workers back in full-time, ending its hybrid work setup. The company had tried out hybrid work for about a year, but leadership decided it was time to return to a more traditional, in-person schedule. They explained that many employees were already working on-site most of the time, even during the pandemic, and they believe being together in the office helps them serve customers better.
Not everyone agrees with the change. Some employees have raised concerns about the extra commuting time, costs, and the impact on their work-life balance. Still, AT&T says this move will help boost productivity in the long run.
Walmart
By January 2025, Walmart brought many of its corporate employees back to the office full-time, but with a big twist: they had to relocate.
In 2024, the company told hundreds of remote workers they needed to move to Bentonville, Arkansas (or a few other office locations) to keep their jobs. People had until July to decide and were expected to move by the end of October. Those who didn’t want to relocate were let go between August and January. It wasn’t an easy change — some employees were really frustrated, and quite a few chose to leave rather than move.
Despite the pushback, Walmart opened a brand-new, modern campus in Bentonville in January 2025 and says being together in person will lead to better teamwork and results in the long run.
February 2025
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is bringing everyone back to the office full-time, but they’re doing it in steps.
In late 2024, the company announced it was ending remote work and moving back to an in-person setup. Managers were the first to return, starting February 3, 2025, and by June, all employees are expected to be in the office five days a week.
Leadership believes that working together in person will help the newsroom run more smoothly. Not everyone’s thrilled about the change, but by rolling it out gradually, the company is giving staff a bit of time to get used to the new routine.
March 2025
JPMorgan Chase
From March 2025, JPMorgan Chase asked all of its employees to return to the office full-time. While many were already going in every day, this new policy applied to everyone who had been working hybrid.
CEO Jamie Dimon has always been a big supporter of in-person work, saying it helps with learning and teamwork. But the news didn’t land well with everyone — after the announcement went out in January, hundreds of employees quickly posted concerns about things like commuting, childcare, and added stress. The response was so strong that the bank shut down the comments section after just an hour. Managers admitted the change might be tough for some, but they believe being in the office will benefit the company overall. People were given at least 30 days to prepare, and special cases could be discussed, but for the most part, it was back to the office full-time starting in March.
Dell
Starting March 3, employees who live near a Dell office are now expected to come in five days a week. The news came in an email from CEO Michael Dell at the end of January, giving staff just over a month to prepare.
This was a big change — up until then, Dell had been pretty flexible, letting people choose between working fully remote or coming in just a few days a week. Some teams, like sales, had already been asked to return earlier, which had caused a scramble for things like childcare. This time around, the transition was more organized, but still a big adjustment for many.
Dell says it’s working on making the office experience better by upgrading spaces and equipment, but it’s definitely a new routine for those who had gotten used to the freedom of hybrid work.
April 2025
WPP
From April 2025, WPP, the world’s biggest advertising group, asked its employees to come back to the office at least four days a week. The company says being together in person helps boost creativity and connection, something they see as key to doing great work.
Employees still get one flexible work-from-home day each week, which they can sort out with their manager. Plus, they’re now expected to be in the office for at least two Fridays each month to keep things consistent.
The reaction from staff has been mixed. Many value the flexibility they had, and over 2,000 employees signed a petition against the new rule, calling it a step backward. WPP knows the change won’t be popular with everyone, but they believe it will help the company grow stronger in the long run. They also gave people a few months to prepare and made sure offices were ready for the return.
Google tightened its hybrid work policy, especially for employees who had been working fully remote. While the company has been using a 3-day-in, 2-days-remote model for a while, some teams, like Technical Services and HR, were told they now need to come into the office at least three days a week. This applies to people who live near a Google office but had been approved to work from home full-time.
Google even offered to help cover moving costs for those who need to relocate to be closer to an office. Leaders at Google, including co-founder Sergey Brin, have been pushing for more time in the office, saying it helps with innovation and teamwork. This isn’t a company-wide rule for everyone, but certain teams are now expected to be in more often.
Planned office returns (as of May 2025)
- Bank of New York Mellon is asking employees to come into the office four days a week starting September 2, 2025. Right now, it’s three days. Leaders at the bank say being together more often will help people work and learn better as a team.
- Uber will be updating its hybrid work plan in June 2025. From then on, employees will need to be in the office three days a week, Tuesday to Thursday. If someone lives near an office and has been working fully remote, they’ll now need to come in, or possibly look for a new role elsewhere.
- Intel is increasing office days to four per week starting September 1, 2025. The company says that being together in person helps teams move faster and come up with better ideas. Up until now, many employees were working from home two days a week, but that wasn’t always followed.
Companies that have already returned to the office
Below you’ll find a table of with the examples of larger companies that implemented RTO mandates (hybrid or full office return).
Company | RTO type | Date |
|---|---|---|
Tesla | Full-time RTO | June 2022 (announced) |
Tata Consultancy (TCS) | Full-time RTO in progress | Sept 2022 (start) |
Apple | Hybrid (3 days) | Sept 2022 (effective) |
Twitter/X | Full-time RTO | Nov 2022 (announced) |
Starbucks | Hybrid (3 days) | Jan 2023 (effective) |
Disney | Hybrid (4 days) | Mar 2023 (effective) |
Zoom | Hybrid (2 days) | Aug 2023 (announced) |
Meta | Hybrid (3 days) | Sept 2023 (effective) |
IBM | Hybrid (3 days) | Sept 2023 (announced) |
Nike | Hybrid (4 days) | Jan 2024 (effective) |
Deutsche Bank | Hybrid (3-4 days) | Feb 2024 (enforced) |
Salesforce | Hybrid (3-4+ days) | Oct 2024 (enforced) |
Why are companies forcing a Return-to-office (RTO)?
Many business leaders believe that being together in person helps teams work better, builds stronger company culture, and makes people more productive. A WTW survey from 2024 showed that most leaders think face-to-face time really does make a difference for teamwork and engagement.
But not all return-to-office plans are just about collaboration. Some companies may be using them as a quiet way to reduce staff — hoping that certain employees will quit instead of having to go through formal layoffs. Others might be trying to make use of expensive office spaces or support nearby businesses that rely on office workers.
There’s also a belief that being back in the office might lead to better productivity and profits. One study even found that some big companies brought in RTO rules right after their stock prices dropped — possibly hoping it would help boost performance.
But here’s the catch: the research doesn’t really support that being in the office five days a week improves business results. What it does show clearly is that it tends to make employees less happy. Here’s more on the recent RTO statistics and research →
Rolling out RTO plans the right way
If you’re planning a return-to-office policy, here’s something to keep in mind: how you do it matters just as much as the policy itself. In fact, surveys show that strict, one-size-fits-all rules often backfire.
So what works better? A thoughtful, flexible approach. Instead of just telling people they have to come in, involve them in the plan. Let them help shape the hybrid schedule, explain why in-office time matters (like for collaboration or team building), and make that time count with things like planning sessions, creative brainstorms, or even team lunches.
Perks can help, too. Many employees say they’d be more open to office time if it came with higher pay, a shorter commute, no dress code, or better tech. And speaking of tech — it’s a must-have. With 87% of workers saying great technology is key to doing their job well, investing in the right tools is more important than ever.
If your company runs on a hybrid model, using tools like Archie can make things easier. It lets employees book desks, reserve meeting rooms, check in visitors, and track office usage all in one place. And unlike tools that charge per person, Archie charges per resource, so it’s perfect for flexible workspaces with more employees than desks.
Berenika Teter
Archie's Content Manager, fueled by filter coffee and a love for remote work. When she’s not writing about coworking spaces and hybrid workplaces, you can probably find her exploring one.
