Majority of Fortune 100 Companies Require Full Return to Office

More than half of Fortune 100 companies now require employees to be fully back in the office, up from just 33% in 2020. Hybrid work schedules, once the norm, are now offered by only 41 of the country's 100 largest companies by revenue. The shift towards a full return to office could influence other businesses to adopt similar policies.

More than half of Fortune 100 companies now require employees to be fully back in the office, up from just 33% in 2020. Hybrid work schedules, once the norm, are now offered by only 41 of the country's 100 largest companies by revenue. This shift towards a full return to office could influence other businesses to adopt similar policies.

According to a report from real estate firm Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. (JLL), the number of Fortune 100 companies requiring full-time office attendance has jumped to 54% from 5% [1]. Hybrid schedules, which were offered by 78% of these companies two years ago, are now available at just 41% [1]. The shift is reshaping the commercial real estate market, with office attendance in April and May up 1.3% versus the same period last year [1]. Premium buildings are commanding record prices, with new construction asking $92.38 per square foot, the highest on record [1].

The return of employees helps justify costly office leases in premium buildings. Among the 10 largest Fortune 100 companies, seven now require at least four days a week in-person, with the other three demanding full-time attendance [1]. The average in-office requirement of the Fortune 100 rose to 3.8 days per week in the second quarter of 2025 from 2.6 days in the second quarter of 2023 [1].

Several major companies have announced mandates to return to the office. Amazon.com Inc. started prepping corporate staff to return fully to in-person work by January 2025 [1]. JPMorgan Chase & Co. ended its hybrid-work option in January 2025 [2]. Starbucks Corp. announced that corporate employees must work in the office four days a week starting September 29, 2025 [2]. Workers who opt to leave will be given a one-time cash exit offer [2].

The broader trend is a decisive shift away from pandemic-era remote work flexibility. Companies like Apple, Walmart, Dell, and Disney have also mandated in-person work [2]. Executives cite collaboration, culture, and productivity as primary drivers for these changes [2].

However, not all companies are embracing this shift. Some, like Airbnb and Spotify, continue to offer flexible or fully remote models [2]. A research note from Capital Economics shows that office attendance as measured by keycard swipes was just 50% nationally as of the first half of 2025 [2].

This trend could have broader implications for the job market. Only 20% of US workers feel secure in their job, according to research released by the hiring platform Greenhouse [3]. Worried job seekers are taking note of AI's integration into daily workflows and marketing AI skills on their resumes [3].

While the shift towards full-time office attendance is significant, it is essential to note that the decision to return to the office is influenced by various factors, not just productivity. Executives may be driven by gut feelings or a desire to return to pre-pandemic norms. The fact that office-attendance requirements have reached a tipping point within the Fortune 100 does not necessarily mean it is the best approach for all businesses.

References:
[1] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-17/hybrid-work-no-longer-dominant-policy-of-fortune-100-companies
[2] https://fortune.com/2025/07/14/starbucks-return-to-office-ceo-brian-niccol-voluntary-exit-cash-payment/
[3] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2025-07-17/back-in-the-office-corporate-america-s-hybrid-work-era-is-over