Amazon, JPMorgan, and other major companies are declaring an end to remote work, while federal employees are now mandated to return to in-person work as well. Five years after the pandemic reshaped the workplace, employees have grown used to fluctuating return-to-office policies, often introduced but later abandoned.
Recently, the push to eliminate remote work has gained renewed momentum and authority. On Monday, President Trump signed an executive order directing federal department heads to end remote work arrangements and require all federal workers to return to the office five days a week. Trump previewed this move in December, warning that federal employees who resisted returning would face dismissal.
Corporate leaders, who have long favored a return to traditional office setups, are echoing this sentiment. Amazon, JPMorgan, and AT&T have announced plans requiring employees to be in the office full-time this year. The shift is also reflected in popular culture, with shows like Babygirl glorifying office life and Severance exploring corporate dynamics, while newsletters like Feed Me boldly proclaim remote work is “out.”
Interestingly, some workers have voluntarily returned to the office, embracing their pre-pandemic routines. With both public and private sectors aligning, the era of remote work may be nearing its conclusion, signaling a major cultural and professional shift.
