IBM says managers must return to the office or quit

IBM is telling managers to return to the office at least three days a week or “separate” from the company, according to an internal memo.

According to reports, IBM Senior Vice President John Granger told managerial employees on Jan. 16 that they must return to the office or vacate their positions. Under the new policy, executives and managers will be expected to return to the office at least three days a week, with some exceptions for employees with medical issues or military service requirements.

Employees who live more than 50 miles away from their nearest IBM office space have until August to relocate closer.

The announcement is somewhat of a policy change for IBM, whose CEO Arbind Krishna said last year he would not force workers back into the office. But Mr. Krishna has been a vocal opponent of remote work at IBM and said that promotions were less likely to be given to remote employees.

IBM’s new stance on remote work follows other tech companies trying to get their leaders back in the cubicles. However, many companies have retreated from their efforts lately after significant pushback from employees.

Amazon managers and office workers loudly objected to the company’s efforts to return to the office, citing better work-life balance in remote work and privacy concerns at the office. U.S. workers generally approve of remote work, with many preferring at least a hybrid work model to being in the office full-time.

Still, employers are itching to get some use out of their expensive real estate. Most recently, UPS announced it would be requiring managers to return to the office full-time, after cutting 12,000 managerial jobs.