Microsoft has long supported a flexible hybrid model, permitting up to 50 percent remote work; the shift would represent a notable departure toward more structured in‑office expectations.

Microsoft is reportedly preparing to tighten its return-to-office (RTO) policy, with plans to require employees, particularly at its Redmond, Washington headquarters, to work from the office at least three days a week beginning January 2026.

Business Insider reports while the company has long supported a flexible hybrid model, permitting up to 50 percent remote work, the shift would represent a notable departure toward more structured in‑office expectations.

Final details of the policy are still being ironed out, and a formal announcement could arrive as early as September 2025. This outlines a growing trend among major tech players-Meta, Google, Amazon, and Dell have already introduced similar mandates, aligning with mounting performance pressures across the industry.

The potential change arrives amid a backdrop of organizational restructuring at Microsoft, including thousands of layoff actions targeting underperforming staff and the introduction of new performance-improvement plans.