The update was communicated to employees by Amy Coleman, Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer. The guidance links increased in-person collaboration with support for work on artificial intelligence initiatives.
Key Points
- Puget Sound employees within 50 miles of a Microsoft office: transition to three in-office days per week by February 2026.
- Other U.S. locations: timelines to be announced; international planning to begin in 2026.
- Exception requests: available to employees per the internal process.
- Managers: resources provided to support team transitions.
- Workplace safety and security measures will be updated alongside the rollout.
- The policy change is not tied to headcount reductions.
Industry Context
Several large technology companies have introduced or maintained hybrid policies requiring multiple in-office days per week. Microsoft’s phased approach aligns with a broader trend toward structured hybrid schedules.
Employee Sentiment and Hybrid Trends
- Gallup reports that among remote-capable U.S. employees, a majority work in hybrid arrangements; the average in-office time among hybrid workers is a little over two days per week. Source: Gallup.
- The Cisco Global Hybrid Work Study indicates many employees perceive productivity benefits from hybrid schedules, while also noting a shift toward increased office presence. Source: Cisco.
- Survey data from FM: Systems shows some employees prefer more in-office time, though a larger share continue to value partial remote work each week. Source: FM: Systems.
Taken together, the data suggest continued demand for flexibility alongside a steady reintroduction of structured in-office expectations.