Return-to-office mandates: What to know if your company asks you back.

Companies are rolling back remote work and many plan four-day-in-office mandates in 2026; surveys and managers report mixed views on productivity and worker preferences.

Companies are rolling back remote work and issuing return-to-office mandates. Surveys and managers report differing views on whether in-person schedules improve performance. Career editors and workplace experts are discussing trust, onboarding and structured hybrid options as ways organizations and employees navigate the shift. Key points: - A Gallup Poll reported that about 10% of workers want to work onsite full time. - A Resume Builder survey found that nearly half of companies plan to require employees to be in the office at least four days a week in 2026. - An Owl Labs survey reported that almost 70% of managers say hybrid and remote teams are more productive. Summary: The move toward more in-office requirements is shifting workplace norms and is framed by discussions about manager visibility, employee trust and onboarding. Undetermined at this time.