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.
In this article, we’ll take a look at which 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
Returning to the office in 2026
- Paramount Skydance
- Novo Nordisk
- NBCUniversal
- Truist
- Kroger
- Sherwin-Williams
- Microsoft
- Home Depot
- PNC Financial
- Stellantis
- Ubisoft
February 2026
In December 2025, Instagram chief Adam Mosseri told staff in an internal memo that all U.S. employees with assigned desks must return to the office five days a week from 2 February 2026 (making it much stricter than Meta’s other divisions, which stay on a three-day hybrid schedule). The memo frames the move as part of a push to make Instagram “more nimble and creative” as competition increases, and Mosseri says teams are “more creative and collaborative” when working together in person.
The memo also lays out a set of “how we work” changes meant to make office time more useful. Recurring meetings will be canceled every six months unless they are “absolutely necessary,” employees are encouraged to protect focus time by declining low-value meetings, and teams are urged to build more prototypes instead of relying on slide decks. Mosseri also acknowledges pressure ahead, saying 2026 will be tough, but argues these changes will help the company move faster with more “creativity, boldness, and craft.”
Microsoft
In September 2025, Microsoft announced that employees living near its offices will soon need to come in at least three days a week. The updated return-to-office policy started Monday, February 23, 2026, beginning with employees in the Puget Sound area (the Seattle region). If someone lives within 50 miles of a Microsoft office there, they are expected to work on site at least three days a week.
This is a real shift for Microsoft because, until now, many employees could work remotely up to about half the time without manager approval. Under the new approach, Microsoft is setting a clear minimum, but it is not telling everyone which three days they must come in. Teams and managers decide the details, and some groups may ask for more than three days depending on the work.
The Seattle-area rollout is only the first phase, though. Microsoft has said other U.S. offices come next, and international locations will follow later in 2026.
January 2026
Paramount Skydance
In early September 2025, Paramount Skydance told employees it was moving to a much stricter return-to-office plan. CEO David Ellison said working together in person is “absolutely vital” for the company’s culture and success, especially in a creative industry. From January 5, 2026, employees assigned to the Los Angeles and New York offices were expected to work on-site five days a week. The rollout was described as phased, with other locations, international teams, and some remote roles to be addressed later.
Alongside the announcement, the company offered a voluntary severance (buyout) program for eligible staff who “cannot or do not wish” to return full-time, with a decision deadline in mid-September 2025. Reports later said around 600 employees took the buyout instead of returning, and filings put the cost at roughly $185 million.
Novo Nordisk
In September 2025, Novo Nordisk told staff that all office-based employees will need to be back in the office full-time starting January 1, 2026. This was a big change, because the company had previously allowed a mix of remote, hybrid, and flexible setups depending on the team and country. Under the new approach, the rule is simple and global: five days a week on site for office roles, instead of different policies by region.
Despite the pushback, most remaining staff appeared to comply, and Novo Nordisk presented the policy as part of a broader reset under new leadership.
NBCUniversal
In September 2025, NBCUniversal told its hybrid employees that they will need to be in the office four days a week, starting January 5, 2026. Under the plan, employees are expected to work on-site Monday through Thursday, with Fridays staying remote for the time being. To soften the shift, NBCUniversal also offered a voluntary severance package for eligible staff who do not want to return under the new schedule. A number of employees reportedly chose the buyout.
Truist
In November 2025, Truist said it is ending hybrid work and bringing employees back to the office full-time. The bank’s plan started January 5, 2026, when teammates who were on hybrid schedules were expected to work on site five days a week.
This was not a sudden switch. Truist had already been tightening office attendance over time. Earlier, the bank moved many hybrid employees from three days a week in the office to four, and investment banking teams were pushed to five days even sooner. The January 2026 shift essentially makes the strictest standard the default for everyone who previously had a hybrid setup. Truist’s move also fits a bigger pattern in banking, where several large institutions have been pushing harder for full-time office work.
Kroger
In late November 2025, Kroger confirmed it will require corporate and office employees to work on site five days a week starting in January 2026, instead of working remotely.
Kroger’s EVP Tim Massa said the change is meant to simplify how the company works and help teams move faster, solve problems more quickly, and stay aligned while supporting stores, plants, and distribution centers that run around the clock. A company spokesperson said the update applies to Store Support Center associates, and local reporting said it impacts thousands of office workers in the Cincinnati area.
Sherwin-Williams
Sherwin-Williams has moved its corporate teams back to the office five days a week. The company ended its “Global Flexible Working” hybrid policy (introduced in 2022) and replaced it with a much stricter in-office setup.
To add a little flexibility, Sherwin-Williams introduced a “Remote Day Bank.” Employees get 12 remote-work days per year, and they can use them in half-day chunks. There are also limits: people can use no more than two remote days per month, and unused days do not roll over. Outside of those limited days, employees are expected to be on site every workday. While there have not been big public reports of resignations, the policy has sparked a lot of discussion, and it seems to have affected morale for some teams.
Office returns still planned for 2026
- In January 2026, Home Depot announced that corporate employees will be back in the office five days a week starting April 6, 2026. The update came alongside cuts to some remote corporate roles, and leadership said the shift is meant to speed up execution and keep teams closer to the business.
- In January 2026, PNC Financial said it will move to five days a week in the office starting May 4, 2026, ending its hybrid setup. Leadership framed it as a return to working “together, in person,” and public reaction was fairly quiet, though some staff were disappointed.
- In January 2026, Stellantis announced a move to five days a week on-site for U.S. employees starting March 30, 2026, with leaders at director level and above expected to start earlier. The company framed it as a push for better teamwork, mentorship, and closer hands-on work with products, though it noted timing may vary in some locations based on office capacity.
- In January 2026, Ubisoft said it plans to move teams back to the office five days a week, with a limited yearly allowance of work-from-home days. The company linked the shift to a broader reorganization that is expected to start operating in early April 2026, and said the goal is stronger collaboration and faster decision-making.
Returned to the office in 2025
- Amazon
- AT&T
- Walmart
- The Washington Post
- JPMorgan Chase
- Dell
- WPP
- Electronic Arts (EA)
- Minnesota State Government
- Uber
- Woolworths Australia
- Bank of New York Mellon
- Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)
- Ford Motor
- Bank of Montreal
- Target
- Toyota
- 3M
- HSBC
- Starbucks
- Samsung
- TD Bank
December 2025
As of December 2025, most high-profile RTO news has been about new announcements (like Instagram’s 5-day mandate starting in 2026), rather than big policies actually taking effect right now.
November 2025
As of November 2025, there aren’t any big new return-to-office plans from major companies being implemented.
October 2025
HSBC
HSBC is tightening its return-to-office policy, starting with senior leaders and potentially expanding to more employees soon. From October 2025, all managing directors are required to work from the office at least four days a week, as part of the bank’s push to “lead by example” and strengthen company culture and client relationships.
At the same time, HSBC’s leadership is weighing an even broader RTO plan that would require all employees to be in the office at least three days a week. This change would mark a major shift away from the pandemic-era hybrid model the bank has used since 2020. But it comes with big challenges: HSBC is already facing a global desk shortage and could need to spend around $200 million a year to add office space in key cities like London, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Guangzhou to support more in-person work.
Starbucks
Starbucks announced in mid-2025 that it will increase the in-office requirement for its corporate/support center employees from 3 days to 4 days per week, starting October 2025. The policy will apply in its Seattle and Toronto support centers and its North American regional offices. The new “common days” for in-office work are Monday through Thursday.
In addition, Starbucks is requiring support center people managers to relocate to Seattle or Toronto within 12 months, though individual contributors are not being asked to relocate. To soften the transition, Starbucks is offering a one-time voluntary exit package (a cash payout) for employees who’d rather leave than comply with the new in-office requirements.
Samsung
Samsung has begun enforcing a 5-day in-office requirement for some of its U.S. semiconductor employees. Previously, those teams operated under a “FlexWork” policy, which allowed up to two remote days per week. The shift started in early July 2025 for that subset of employees, with the full roll-out supported by a new tool to track office attendance and help prevent “coffee badging” (when people badge in briefly but don’t actually stay).
TD Bank
TD Bank is shifting to a four-days-in-office routine. Executives started on October 6, 2025, and most other staff were asked to follow from November 3 where there’s enough space. The “space available” bit matters: due to desk capacity constraints in some locations, timelines vary by team or region. Some teams will move later, with phased schedules by region or business, and a few not switching to four days until early 2026.
This rollout is happening alongside a broader restructuring, including about a 2% headcount reduction and the wind-down of its U.S. point-of-sale financing business, which has affected areas like direct investing, risk management, and corporate functions.
September 2025
Intel
Starting September 1, 2025, Intel is asking employees to come into the office four days a week. Until now, many people were working from home two or even three days a week — and not everyone was sticking to the guidelines. The company says being together more often helps teams move faster, share ideas, and get more done. This marks a shift back toward more in-person work at Intel’s offices.
Bank of New York Mellon
BNY Mellon increased the in-office requirement from three to four days a week, starting September 2, 2025. The bank believes that being together in person makes it easier for people to work and learn from one another. It’s part of a broader push to bring teams closer and strengthen collaboration.
Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)
RBC is also moving to four in-office days per week starting in September 2025. The change doesn’t affect fully remote or already in-office roles. The bank says this shift supports its team culture and helps people connect better. That said, not everyone is happy about it — employees have been discussing the challenges, like longer commutes and higher travel costs.
Ford Motor Company
Starting September 1, 2025, Ford is asking all salaried employees around the world to work from the office at least four days a week. Many were already going in three days a week, so this is a small but meaningful change. Leaders at Ford say working side by side will improve teamwork and help the company grow.
Bank of Montreal (BMO)
BMO shared its new RTO plan on June 26, 2025. Employees are expected to work from the office four days a week starting September 15, if there’s space available. The bank believes that spending more time together in person leads to a stronger culture, better service, and higher productivity overall.
Target
Target is slowly bringing more of its HQ staff back to the office. Over the summer of 2025, some departments were asked to return 2–3 days a week. More teams are expected to follow in September. The company still lets managers decide what works best for their teams, but it’s clear that more office time is becoming the norm.
Toyota
Toyota asked all salaried employees in North America to return to the office four days a week starting September 2, 2025. The new schedule runs Monday through Thursday, with Fridays being flexible depending on the role. People have had time to prepare for the change, but Toyota says there could be consequences for not following the policy.
3M
3M told its corporate teams they’ll need to be in the office four days a week starting September 1, 2025. The company believes this will lead to better collaboration and fresh ideas. Some teams will make the switch right away, while others will return later — especially if their office space is still being renovated, which may continue into 2026.
August 2025
A few companies shared new return-to-office plans, but no major company brought employees back to the office during August 2025.
July 2025
Several companies announced new return-to-office plans, but no major company had employees actually return to the office in July 2025.
June 2025
Minnesota State Government
In June 2025, thousands of Minnesota state workers headed back to the office under a new rule from Governor Tim Walz. The policy, announced in March, says most employees must now work in the office at least half of the time. This is a big change after five years of flexible remote work. The move has caused some tension with unions, especially the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees, who said they weren’t asked for input and questioned if the state is truly ready for the shift.
Uber
Uber asked the employees to come into the office three days a week, instead of two. The change didn’t sit well with many workers, especially after CEO Dara Khosrowshahi responded to concerns during an all-hands meeting with, “It is what it is.” Around the same time, Uber also updated its sabbatical policy, making employees wait eight years, up from five, before they can take a paid month off.
Woolworths Australia
Woolworths Australia shared its return-to-office plan already in February 2025. CEO Amanda Bardwell acknowledged that hybrid work has been working well, but believes more face-to-face time will make a positive difference. All Support Office staff (around 10,000 people in 10 locations) has been asked to work from the office at least three days a week, but the change is happening slowly: starting with one day in the office from June 2, then two days by August 4, and three days by October 6.
May 2025
Starting from May 2025, EA (Electronic Arts) is phasing out remote work and moving toward a new, consistent hybrid model across the company. Most employees will need to come into the office at least three days a week — anyone farther away than 30 miles (48 km) of an EA office may stay remote for now, but offsite roles will gradually be phased out over the next 3 to 24 months. The change won’t happen right away; teams will get at least 12 weeks’ notice before anything switches. Still, the announcement has caused some concern among employees, especially those facing long commutes.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Companies that have already returned to the office before 2025
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 |
|---|---|---|
Goldman Sachs | Full-time RTO | March 2022 (announced) |
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) |
Snap | Hybrid (4 days) | Feb 2023 (effective) |
Disney | Hybrid (4 days) | Mar 2023 (effective) |
Chipotle | Hybrid (4 days) | June 2023 (announced) |
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 employee 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 Archie can make things easier. Archie’s room & desk booking software lets employees book desks, reserve meeting rooms, 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. It covers a visitor management system, too.
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.
