Microsoft is mandating workers return to the office 3 days a week
The company was an outlier among many of its peers that put the kibosh on remote work long ago
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Microsoft $MSFT is updating its work policy and shifting away from the remote work setup that became popular during the pandemic.
In a recent memo, the company said employees at its Washington state office who live within 50 miles now need to work on-site at least three days a week. Microsoft hopes this change will make the workplace more collaborative and energetic.
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Amy Coleman, Microsoft's Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer, explained why the company is making this change. "We've looked at how our teams work best, and the data is clear: when people work together in person more often, they thrive — they are more energized, empowered, and they deliver stronger results," she wrote. "As we build the AI products that will define this era, we need the kind of energy and momentum that comes from smart people working side by side, solving challenging problems together."
Microsoft will roll out this new policy gradually, starting with the Puget Sound office at the end of February. The transition will later include other U.S. locations and eventually international offices, but specific dates have not been shared. Microsoft plans to organize international return-to-office schedules in 2026. The memo did not clarify what is expected of Puget Sound employees who live more than 50 miles away.
Coleman acknowledged that this change will affect employees differently. "For some of you, this is not a change. For others this may be a bigger adjustment, which is exactly why we're providing time to plan thoughtfully," she wrote. "As part of these updates, we're also enhancing our workplace safety and security measures so we can continue to provide a workplace where every employee can do their best work."
Microsoft’s decision is part of a trend among large companies bringing employees back to the office. Until now, Microsoft was different from Apple $AAPL, IBM, and Google $GOOGL, which already require employees to be in the office three days a week. With this change, Microsoft aims to balance flexibility with the benefits of working together in person.