The era of widespread remote work is rapidly closing. As we move through 2026, a growing number of major corporations have issued strict return-to-office (RTO) mandates, requiring employees to be physically present five days a week. According to a JLL survey, 55% of Fortune 100 companies now require five-day office attendance—up dramatically from just 5% in 2021.
Whether you’re actively searching for a new position or assessing your current employer’s trajectory, understanding which companies have implemented full-time RTO policies is essential for career planning. This comprehensive guide covers every major employer requiring five-day office work in 2026 and what these changes mean for job seekers.
Why Companies Are Pushing for Full-Time Office Return
Before diving into the complete list, it’s important to understand the forces driving this seismic shift. Employers cite several reasons for ending remote work arrangements:
Collaboration and culture: Many executives believe in-person work fosters better collaboration, mentorship, and company culture. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy stated the policy was part of a wider plan to “strengthen” company culture.
Real estate utilization: Companies have long-term office leases signed before 2020 that represent significant fixed costs. A Deloitte analysis found that underutilized office space creates pressure to justify these investments.
Indirect headcount reduction: According to ResumeBuilder, 1 in 4 executives admitted they hoped some employees would quit when RTO policies were introduced. This allows companies to reduce headcount without formal layoffs.
Management preferences: A KPMG survey found that 83% of CEOs expect a full return to office within the next three years, reflecting a strong executive preference for in-person oversight.
If you’re navigating these changes in your job search, our job search resources can help you identify employers whose policies align with your preferences.
Technology Companies Requiring 5-Day RTO
Amazon
- Effective: January 2025
- Employees affected: 350,000+ corporate employees
Amazon implemented one of the largest and strictest RTO policies in tech, requiring all corporate employees to return to the office five days per week starting January 2025. The company uses badge swipe monitoring to track attendance. A Glassdoor poll revealed that nearly 75% of Amazon professionals reconsidered their future with the company following the announcement.
Instagram (Meta)
- Effective: February 2, 2026
- Employees affected: All U.S. employees with assigned desks
Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri announced in December 2025 that all U.S.-based employees must return five days a week, making it significantly stricter than Meta’s other divisions (Facebook, WhatsApp), which remain on a three-day hybrid schedule. Mosseri framed the move as boosting “creativity, collaboration, and speed.”
TikTok
- Effective: September 2026
- Employees affected: U.S. employees in advertising, sales, marketing, and product divisions
TikTok is requiring full-time office attendance across key U.S. divisions. The TikTok Shop division already tracks hours spent physically in the office. These plans could shift if TikTok sells its U.S. business under the 2024 divestment law.
Dell
- Effective: March 2025
- Employees affected: All employees living near a Dell office
CEO Michael Dell announced that employees living close to a Dell office are expected to work in-office five days per week. The company previously had different tiers for remote and hybrid workers but has now consolidated to a full-time in-office model for most corporate roles.
Samsung (U.S. Semiconductor Division)
- Effective: July 2025
- Employees affected: U.S. semiconductor employees
Samsung ended its “FlexWork” policy for U.S. semiconductor teams, requiring five-day office attendance with tools to track attendance and prevent “coffee badging” (briefly badging in without staying).
Looking for opportunities in the tech sector? Our IT staffing specialists work with companies across the flexibility spectrum.
Financial Services & Banking Companies Requiring 5-Day RTO
JPMorgan Chase
- Effective: March 2025
- Employees affected: 300,000+ global employees
JPMorgan Chase, the largest U.S. bank with $3.9 trillion in assets, ended hybrid work for all employees. CEO Jamie Dimon has been a vocal opponent of remote work, stating that “five is ideal” for office days. The policy sparked an employee petition that gathered over 2,000 signatures, though Dimon dismissed it in a company town hall. Bloomberg reported the decision brings JPMorgan in line with Goldman Sachs, which has long required full-time office attendance.
Goldman Sachs
- Effective: 2022 (ongoing)
- Employees affected: All employees
Goldman Sachs was among the first major banks to mandate full-time office return, with CEO David Solomon famously calling remote work an “aberration.” The policy has been strictly enforced since March 2022.
Truist
- Effective: January 2026
- Employees affected: All employees
The regional bank announced all employees must return to the office five days a week starting in January 2026, ending its hybrid arrangements.
Barclays (Investment Banking)
- Effective: June 2024 (ongoing)
- Employees affected: Investment banking staff
Barclays requires investment banking employees to spend five days a week either in the office or visiting clients, though occasional flexible working is still permitted.
For professionals in finance and accounting, understanding each firm’s RTO policy has become essential to career planning.
Media & Entertainment Companies Requiring 5-Day RTO
Paramount Skydance
- Effective: January 5, 2026
- Employees affected: Employees at Los Angeles and New York offices
Following the $8.4 billion merger between Paramount and Skydance, the company mandated full-time office attendance for employees at its primary locations. Workers who couldn’t comply were offered severance packages—approximately 600 of 18,000 employees accepted, costing the company $185 million in restructuring costs. A second phase will address employees in other offices and those hired on fully remote arrangements.
NBCUniversal
- Effective: January 2026 (4 days with path to 5)
- Employees affected: Hybrid employees
NBCUniversal is requiring hybrid employees to be in-office four days a week starting January 2026, with Fridays remaining optional. Employees unwilling to comply may take a voluntary exit package, signaling potential moves toward a full five-day requirement.
The Washington Post
- Effective: 2025
- Employees affected: All staff
The newspaper eliminated hybrid and remote roles entirely in 2025, requiring all staff to work from the office full-time.
Our entertainment and media recruiting team can help you navigate opportunities in this evolving sector.
Federal Government Requires 5-Day RTO
- Effective: Janurary 2025 (phased implementation)
- Employees affected: 2+ million federal civilian employees
On his first day in office, President Trump signed an executive order requiring all federal employees to return to in-person work at their respective duty stations. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) directed agencies to comply within 30 days, with exemptions available only for employees with disabilities, qualifying medical conditions, or other “compelling reasons.”
According to Gallup, the percentage of federal employees working in-office increased nearly 30 points in the second quarter of 2025 to 46%. Federal workers are now twice as likely to work in-office as private-sector employees in remote-capable jobs.
The transition has not been smooth. NPR reported federal workers returning to offices faced shortages of desks, computer monitors, parking, and even toilet paper. Some employees were assigned to locations including, in one case, a storage facility.
For those exploring federal employment opportunities, check out our article on ICE immigration jobs and other government positions.
Telecommunications Companies Requiring 5-Day RTO
AT&T: Required all staff to work on-site five days a week since January 2025, ending its hybrid policy.
Retail Companies Requiring 5-Day RTO
Walmart: Ended remote work for corporate employees and closed tech hubs in Dallas, Atlanta, and Toronto, requiring workers to relocate to Bentonville, Arkansas, or leave with severance.
Boots (UK): Required office-based staff to commute five days a week since September 2024.
Pharmaceutical Companies Requiring 5-Day RTO
Novo Nordisk: The pharmaceutical giant behind Ozempic and Wegovy announced in September 2025 that all office-based employees must return full-time starting January 1, 2026. This marked a significant shift from the company’s previous mix of remote, hybrid, and flexible options. The announcement came days after Novo Nordisk cut 9,000 jobs, leading some to speculate the RTO was intended to reduce headcount further through attrition.
Explore opportunities across industries through our specialty recruiting services.
Companies Moving to Stricter Hybrid (4 Days)
While not requiring five full days, these companies have significantly tightened their policies:
Microsoft: Starting February 2026, employees living within 50 miles of an office must work on-site at least three days weekly, rolling out first from Puget Sound headquarters.
WPP: The global advertising giant issued a four-day in-office mandate for its 114,000 staff, sparking an online petition with over 18,000 signatures.
Disney: Operating a four-day in-office policy since March 2023 under CEO Bob Iger.
Starbucks: Increased office requirements to four days per week starting October 2025 and asked remote support staff to relocate to Seattle or Toronto.
HSBC: Managing directors required to work from the office at least four days a week starting October 2025, with potential expansion to more employees.
3M: Corporate teams required in-office four days a week since September 2025.
Intel: Four days in-office since September 2025.
TD Bank: Shifted to four days in-office with executives starting October 2025 and most staff following in November.
What This Means for Job Seekers
The RTO movement has fundamentally changed the job market landscape. Here’s how to navigate it:
Know Your Priorities
Before applying anywhere, determine how important workplace flexibility is to your career satisfaction. According to Pew Research Center, 46% of hybrid and remote workers said they would be unlikely to stay in their job if called back to offices full-time.
Research Thoroughly
RTO policies can change quickly. Always verify current policies during interviews rather than relying on job postings, which may be outdated. Ask specifically about badge tracking, attendance requirements, and whether policies differ by department.
Consider the Commute
Five-day office work means factoring commute time and costs back into your daily life. This can significantly impact your work-life balance and budget. Our guide on calculating take-home pay can help you factor in commuting costs.
Negotiate During the Offer Stage
If flexibility matters to you, negotiate during the offer process, not after accepting. Some companies may allow exceptions for high-value candidates. Read our salary negotiation guide for scripts and strategies.
Update Your Resume
With more competition for remote roles, your resume needs to stand out. Our article on making your resume AI-friendly can help you get past automated screening systems.
Companies That Remain Remote-First
Despite the RTO wave, some companies continue to embrace remote work:
- Coinbase: Continues operating as a remote-first company with no mandatory office days
- Shopify: Maintains “digital by default” approach since 2020
- GitLab: Fully remote with no physical offices
- Zapier: Fully remote since founding
Research from McKinsey suggests remote-first companies access 5x larger talent pools and show 23% higher retention rates—advantages that may become more significant as other employers restrict flexibility.
How Companies Are Enforcing RTO Mandates
According to CBRE, 37% of companies are actively enforcing office attendance in 2025, up from 17% in 2024. Methods include:
- Badge tracking: 34% of companies have implemented badge monitoring
- Performance evaluations: 32% factor attendance into reviews
- Promotion considerations: 29% consider office presence for promotions and raises
- Termination: 47% of companies requiring five-day schedules plan to discipline or terminate non-compliant employees
Notably, while required office time increased 12% from 2024 to 2025, actual attendance only rose 1-3%, suggesting many employees are finding ways to work around mandates.
The Future of Return-to-Office Policies
The return-to-office movement has fundamentally shifted in 2026. What started as a handful of companies has become a wave of mandates affecting millions of workers. Whether this represents a permanent change or a pendulum that will eventually swing back toward flexibility remains to be seen.
For job seekers, the key is understanding your own priorities and researching potential employers thoroughly. The companies requiring five-day office work and those maintaining flexibility represent two distinct employment markets—knowing which camp a potential employer falls into before you apply can save significant time and frustration.
Need help finding opportunities that match your work style preferences? Contact our recruiting team to discuss your career goals and learn about positions across the flexibility spectrum.
