The number of U.S. employers requiring a full return to in-person work may be shrinking, but CEOs of several major companies are still pushing for five days in the office, The Wall Street Journal reported Jan. 30.
UPS became the latest member of the so-called "five-day club" this week, joining the likes of JPMorgan Chase and Boeing. UPS Chief Executive Carol Tomé announced the move to require in-person work during a Jan. 30 earnings call, highlighting the importance of personal relationships and the "power of one."
The emphasis on in-person attendance reflects some executives' intent to return to a prepandemic work culture. Other leaders argue it is unfair to let corporate employees work remotely when front-line workers cannot, according to the report.
Still, a relatively small number of large corporations are mandating five days in the office for all or some of their staff members. Eighty-two percent of companies in the Fortune 500 offer remote work opportunities, according to software firm Scoop Technologies.
The number of employers requiring a five-day, in-person work week may also be shrinking. At the start of 2023, 49% of companies required full-time attendance in an office, according to Scoop. By the end of the year, this fell to 38%.
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