JPMorgan Chase has seen a drop in employee satisfaction related to health and well-being, according to the results of its latest internal survey. The bank’s leadership has connected this to the company’s recent decision to require all employees to work full-time from the office, moving away from the previously flexible hybrid schedule.
The internal feedback, gathered from about 90% of the bank’s roughly 284,000 employees, showed that although overall feelings about health and well-being remain relatively positive, they have slightly worsened compared to the previous year. The most significant areas of dissatisfaction centered on work-life balance, opportunities for career growth, and employee wellness, reports Barron’s.Â
Earlier this year, JPMorgan announced a stricter in-office policy requiring full-time attendance starting in March — an increase from the three days a week previously expected. This policy change was met with resistance both within the company and on social media, showcasing larger tensions about workplace flexibility in the post-pandemic era.
Employees’ concerns about limited flexibility appear to have contributed to the lower scores in the internal survey, bringing attention to challenges the bank faces in maintaining morale while enforcing its return-to-office strategy. Despite this, company executives reaffirmed their belief that being physically present in the workplace supports stronger collaboration, better performance, and enhanced opportunities for professional advancement.
JPMorgan also indicated ongoing efforts to improve transparency around promotion processes and career development, acknowledging that more work is needed in these areas. The company is simultaneously expanding the resources and tools available to employees, including deploying advanced AI platforms designed to support productivity and success.
The return-to-office approach at JPMorgan contrasts with policies at some other major financial institutions. For example, Goldman Sachs has required employees to work entirely from the office since 2023, while Citigroup continues to allow two days of remote work per week for many staff. Citigroup recently announced additional remote work flexibility for August, a traditionally quiet month on Wall Street.
The mixed responses to JPMorgan’s office mandate reflect ongoing debates within the finance industry over the future of work arrangements. Internal documents reviewed earlier in the year suggested that JPMorgan’s leadership anticipated potential increases in employee disengagement and turnover as a result of the policy change.
As the bank moves forward, balancing operational goals with employee expectations will be critical to sustaining workforce satisfaction and retention.
