AT&T makes drastic decision after employee policy backfires

"AT&T turned heads in January last year when it decided to pull a lever that has left corporate America up in arms. Like many other companies across the nation, the telecom giant pulled the plug on remote work, ordering employees to return to working in the office five days a week. Before the policy change, employees were allowed to work hybrid schedules, in which they were mandated to work only three days a week in the office."

"More companies plan to follow in AT&T's footsteps this year, mainly to boost company culture and productivity, according to a recent survey from Resume Builder. In 2025, 28% of companies required employees to be in the office five days a week, while 13% required four, 28% required three and 11% allowed full remote work. However, in 2026, 1 in 8 companies plan to increase the number of required days in the office, while 3 in 10 won't allow remote work."

"The main reasons companies are increasing the required in-office days are: to strengthen company culture (64%), to improve productivity (62%), to maximize the use of office space (45%), and to encourage employees to quit (8%). "Many leaders claim to support hybrid work but are calling employees back more often because of underlying pressures and old habits," said Stacie Haller, chief career advisor at ResumeBuilder.com, in a statement. "They equate visibility with productivity and fear losing culture and collaboration.""

AT&T ended its hybrid scheduling and ordered employees to return to the office five days a week after previously mandating three days in-office. An AT&T spokesperson said the return-to-office policy aims to drive collaboration and innovation and better serve customers. A Resume Builder survey found that many companies plan to increase required in-office days in 2026, with 3 in 10 planning to ban remote work. In 2025, 28% of companies required five days, 13% required four, 28% required three, and 11% allowed full remote work. Companies cite strengthening culture (64%), improving productivity (62%), maximizing office use (45%), and prompting resignations (8%). Stacie Haller said leaders often equate visibility with productivity and fear losing culture.

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