List of Companies Calling Workers Back To Office In 2026

""The evidence is mixed and inconclusive as to which configuration results in higher productivity," said employee health and well-being expert Ron Goetzel. "Much depends upon the job itself and whether being in physical proximity to a co-worker is essential. "Certain jobs are best done by individuals who are left alone to think deeply and work without interruption," he told Newsweek. "Other jobs rely on back-and-forth discussion, brainstorming, challenging debates, and side-by-side interactions that don't require scheduling a Zoom call.""

""The success or failure really depends on the type of work and the structure of the environment," she told Newsweek. "Some companies don't have the right metrics in place to make a sound determination, some leaders"

Large companies are tightening in-office requirements in 2026, rolling back work-from-home arrangements and pandemic-era flexible policies. A ResumeBuilder October survey found nearly half of companies will require employees in the office at least four days a week, and 28 percent plan to phase out remote work entirely. Employers cite perceived productivity declines and organizational benefits from in-person collaboration as motives for the shift. Some studies show productivity can improve without daily commuting, and evidence remains mixed on which configuration yields higher productivity. Outcomes depend on job type, need for physical proximity, and workplace structure. Motivations include culture, collaboration, control, cost, and copout.

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