Microsoft to Reinstate Hybrid Work Model: Office Presence Mandatory Three Days a Week

Microsoft has announced that beginning next year, employees will be required to work from the office at least three days a week. The policy will first apply to staff based near its Redmond, Washington headquarters and then be gradually extended to other U.S. locations and international offices, according to a blog post shared by the company on Tuesday.

The tech giant initially adopted a flexible work policy in late 2020 when employees started returning to offices after pandemic-related closures. Under that arrangement, employees were permitted to work remotely for at least half of their workweek without requiring formal approval. In practice, many employees continued to operate from home much of the time.

Microsoft’s new directive will be implemented in phases. Employees residing within 50 miles of its headquarters must report to the office three days a week by the end of February 2026. Additional details regarding timelines for other U.S. offices will be announced later, while planning for international teams is expected to begin in 2026, Microsoft’s chief people officer Amy Coleman explained in the blog.

Coleman acknowledged that the shift may feel seamless for some employees but could be a significant adjustment for others. “We want to provide ample time for thoughtful planning,” she stated.

The move aligns with a broader trend among major tech firms encouraging employees to return to physical office spaces. The remote work model, widely adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowed many companies to operate virtually as health and safety concerns took priority.

However, companies are now reversing course as they seek greater collaboration and productivity. Microsoft’s approach follows similar steps taken by Amazon, which last year required employees to work on-site five days a week—an increase from its earlier three-day mandate. Amazon’s CEO of AWS, Matt Garman, emphasized the firmness of the policy, stating that employees who disagree with the new terms are free to leave.

As hybrid work arrangements face scrutiny, Microsoft’s phased return-to-office strategy signals a renewed focus on in-person interaction while attempting to ease employees through a gradual transition.