Big companies want five-day in-office workweek back

Pandemic-driven remote work culture dominates the US, with 82% of Fortune 500 companies offering some work-from-home opportunities. But a small bunch of corporations are not having it.

On Tuesday, UPS became the latest to advocate for a return to the traditional five-day in-office workweek. Following JPMorgan, Walmart and Boeing, the delivery giant demands full-time attendance for at least some segment of their workforces. In an earnings call, CEO Carol Tome also mentioned that the company plans to cut 12,000 management jobs—approximately 14% of its 85,000 managers.

UPS’ five-day workweek move is part of a broader trend among top executives to fully repopulate offices and return to pre-pandemic ways of working.

Why?
CEOs argue it’s unfair for corporate employees to work remotely while front-line staff go to work every day. This was one of the issues brought up by drivers and warehouse workers during the 2023 labor negotiations, says the Wall Street Journal.

Tech companies Qualcomm and HP are taking a softer route, offering hybrid work, where they prefer their executives to be in the office for three to four days a week.

The clash between CEOs seeking greater in-office attendance and workers desiring flexibility continues in the American labor market, and workers are winning so far.

The number of companies mandating full-time attendance decreased from 49% at the start of 2023 to 38% at the end of the year.