Instagram Ordering Everyone Back to the Office Five Days a Week

"There's been a long tail on pandemic-era hybrid work across the Bay Area and the tech sector especially, but some big companies like Meta are now cracking the whip and calling for five mandatory in-office days, just like olden times. Instagram head Adam Mosseri put out a memo to all employees Monday announcing that a new, five-day in-office policy would take effect February 2, 2026, as first reported by the Sources newsletter. In the memo, Mosseri also reportedly called for reigning in recurring meetings and unnecessary bureaucracy that is "slowing us down.""

"Instagram employees, who in the Bay Area are mostly based out of Facebook/Meta's Menlo Park offices, will be enjoying their last weeks of hybrid work after the new year if their managers even condone that. Because, as Mosseri reportedly says in the memo, "I believe that we are more creative and collaborative when we are together in-person. I felt this pre-COVID and I feel it any time I go to our New York office where the in-person culture is strong.""

Meta and several large Bay Area tech teams are moving from hybrid schedules back to full in-office work. Instagram leadership announced a five-day in-office requirement effective February 2, 2026. The directive also pushes for reducing recurring meetings, canceling unnecessary bureaucracy, and reassessing standing meetings every six months. Leadership expressed belief that in-person presence improves creativity and collaboration, citing pre-COVID experience and strong in-person culture in the New York office. Meta previously leased significant San Francisco office space for Instagram and later sought to offload much of that footprint by January 2023.

Read at sfist.com