AT&T Orders Full-Time Office Return, But (Like Amazon) Lacks Space for Workers

AT&T is tightening its return-to-office (RTO) policy in the new year, requiring all office-based employees to work on-site five days a week starting in January 2025, according to Business Insider. 

This change comes after a year of hybrid work arrangements, which were part of the company’s broader push to bring employees back to its corporate hubs.

In summer 2023, AT&T CEO John Stankey had announced that workers would need to be in the office at least three days a week at one of the company’s nine corporate hubs. 

These locations include major cities like Dallas, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Seattle, among others. Previously, AT&T operated more than 300 offices nationwide, but a shift towards centralized hubs marked a significant change in its office strategy.

The new five-day-a-week requirement is a significant change for many employees who had grown accustomed to a hybrid work schedule. 

Employees on social media, especially within the AT&T subreddit, have raised concerns about whether the company’s office spaces will be able to accommodate the full workforce. 

In response, AT&T said it was actively updating its facilities to handle the increased number of employees expected to return. The company also mentioned that it is adapting its benefits programs and incorporating best practices to ensure employees are well-equipped to serve customers.

While AT&T is making these office expansions, it’s not the only company facing challenges related to workplace capacity. 

Earlier this week, Amazon announced it would delay its five-day office mandate for some employees due to workspace shortages, with some employees expected to return as late as May 2025. Despite these delays, Amazon’s CEO, Andy Jassy, emphasized the importance of in-person collaboration.

AT&T’s stricter RTO policy reflects broader trends in the corporate world, where some CEOs are pushing back against hybrid work setups so as to not lose money on keeping their office spaces.