Companies fire workers over return-to-office mandates
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES — As companies increasingly enforce return-to-office (RTO) mandates, employees who refuse to comply are facing job losses. Major firms like Roblox, Grindr, and Snap have begun terminating workers or offering severance packages to those unwilling to return to the office.
Amazon has announced that starting January 2, employees will be required to report to offices five days a week. Other large employers, including UPS and JPMorgan Chase, have similarly called back workers for full in-person schedules. While outright firings for noncompliance are still relatively rare, they are becoming more common as companies take a firmer stance.
Publicis Media recently terminated several dozen employees for failing to meet in-office requirements, and Starbucks has warned its office staff that they could face dismissal if they do not show up three days a week starting next month.
The human cost of RTO policies
Many employees are grappling with the reality of losing their jobs due to these mandates. Stephanie Pittman, a former director of vendor management, lost her remote position last month after her company began requiring in-person attendance.
“It’s just so frustrating, so demoralizing,” she told The Wall Street Journal, reflecting on her struggle to find another high-paying remote job after applying for over 100 positions.
Nathan Vance, who took a buyout from Grindr rather than relocate closer to the office, is also facing uncertainty. “I’m applying for jobs anywhere and everywhere that I think I have a shot because I’m at the point where I don’t really know what’s going to happen,” he shared. Vance was hired as a remote employee and had bought a house in Washington state under the assumption he could work from home indefinitely.
Dan Kaplan, a senior client partner at Korn Ferry, noted that many CEOs are growing impatient with employees resistant to returning to the office.
“Behind closed doors, there’s a view among CEOs that ‘I’m tired of this whining about coming back to work,’” he said. “‘We’ve compromised enough, and if you’re not meeting the minimum then we’re going to move on without you.’”
Career shifts amidst changing work environments
For some, the shift has prompted complete career changes. Kendelyn Chilton, who was laid off by Amazon in 2023, opted to leave corporate life altogether. She now works in her family’s custom home-building business, avoiding the uncertainty of office mandates.
“So many people are looking down the barrel of never having their remote work situation again,” Chilton said.
As remote work opportunities dwindle—only 8% of jobs posted on LinkedIn are currently remote—many workers fear they may never regain the flexibility they once had.
With companies tightening their grip on in-office attendance, employees must now weigh their options carefully as they navigate this new landscape of work.
