Microsoft (MSFT) has quietly given its staff a major update about remote work just days after Amazon unveiled its own plan to have its employees return to the office five days a week, starting next year.
During an internal meeting, Microsoft Cloud + AI Group Executive Vice President Scott Guthrie reportedly told employees that the company’s remote work policy isn’t etched in stone, according to a new report from Business Insider.
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Currently, Microsoft has a hybrid remote work policy, which was adopted in February 2022, where most employees are expected to work in the office 50% of the time.
Guthrie allegedly warned staff during the meeting that Microsoft won’t return to working in the office five days a week unless it notices a lag in productivity.
Microsoft did not immediately respond to TheStreet's request for comment.
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Productivity so far doesn’t appear to be an issue for Microsoft. While its employees have been on a hybrid remote work schedule since 2022, the company has increased its revenue by 15% year-over-year during the fourth quarter of 2024, according to the company’s latest earnings report. Specifically, Microsoft Cloud’s revenue skyrocketed by 21% during the quarter, compared to the same time period last year.
Guthrie’s comments come as Amazon is facing backlash from its employees over its plans to return to working in the office five days a week. A recent survey from Blind revealed that 73% of Amazon employees are considering looking for another job due to the new policy.
Job candidates who recently applied for positions at Amazon have even reportedly withdrawn their applications en masse due to the company’s updated RTO policy, according to a recent post on Blind.
Job candidates nationwide are searching for positions that allow remote work
David Overmars, a career and resume expert at Jobseeker, claims that more job candidates nationwide are searching for “jobs where you work alone.”
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“People are now choosing how they work best, often finding a strong routine with a work environment that aligns with their personal lives and values,” said Overmars. “For some, that’s a hybrid of in-office and working from home; for others, that’s finding a role where they can work totally on their own according to current search trends. There has been a 9,900% spike in demand for Americans searching for ‘jobs where you work alone’ in September, showcasing just how varied people's preferred working practices have become.”
More Labor:
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- Dell makes a harsh move, solidifying fears about the future of work
- Ex-Google CEO responds to outrage over remote work comments
Overmars also said that reintroducing policies that require workers to return to the office five days a week could be “exceptionally challenging in sectors where it isn’t necessary,” especially since job candidates prefer roles that allow a more flexible schedule.
“All this isn’t to say that the concept of five office days a week is something organizations should entirely avoid,” said Overmars. “Some candidates may prefer this way of working and greatly benefit from being in an office environment more regularly. What social trends are telling us is people are becoming more likely to find a role appealing if it enables flexibility with the ways people want to live and work, rather than being at odds with their values.”
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