The COVID-19 pandemic changed how the world works. One of those things was the work-from-home culture. As people started staying home because of worldwide restrictions, the work-from-home culture gained more normalization with the masses.
Remote work went from a niche perk to a global norm. But as restrictions eased, corporations have been pulling employees back into offices, sparking fresh debates about the future of work.
The pandemic showed that not every job needs to be done in an office. Many people saw that working from home could be a win for both employees and employers when being on-site isn’t essential.
Return-To-Office Policies and Their Impact
Microsoft, the world’s largest software company, is the latest big U.S. employer to scale back remote work. By February 2026, Microsoft will require employees living within 50 miles of its Redmond, Washington headquarters to be on-site at least three days a week.
The move places the company among other major U.S. firms pulling back on remote work. Microsoft’s decision mirrors what other big names have already done. Meta, Google, JPMorgan, and Amazon have all toughened their return-to-office rules since the pandemic eased.
Return-to-office policies are picking up speed nationwide. NBCUniversal is the latest to act, requiring staff to spend four days a week in the office, a sign that remote work is no longer the norm.
Some companies point to productivity and innovation to justify the shift. Others seem to be using return-to-office rules as a quiet way to trim staff, pushing people to resign or letting go of those who don’t follow the new requirements.
Kevin O’Leary Challenges Traditional Office Rules
Our beloved Mr Wonderful disagrees, though. Kevin O’Leary takes a very different stance on remote work. His view stands apart from Microsoft’s approach and the broader push to bring employees back to the office.
Kevin O’Leary used LinkedIn to share his view that rigid office schedules are outdated. He explained that he no longer backs the idea of requiring employees to show up at a physical workplace.
To be specific, he said, “I don’t believe in the 9-to-5 job market anymore. None of my team works in an office anymore because they don’t want to. We have people working for us all around the world. We somehow are very, very productive, and that’s the new economy.”
O’Leary talked about how he now handles conversations with employees when it comes to meeting deadlines. He said, “I don’t care when you get it done. I don’t care if it’s two in the morning or eight in the morning. There is no 9 to 5. Just get it done by the deadline.”
The Changing Balance Between Remote and In-Person Work
Microsoft will make in-office work mandatory for employees living within 50 miles of its Redmond campus starting February 2026. Office attendance will also be considered in performance reviews.
Across the U.S., more companies are following suit. Some companies use these rules to reduce staff without formal layoffs. Since early 2025, Microsoft has cut over 15,000 jobs, raising concerns over its continued H1-B hiring. Locally, the policy is expected to increase traffic in the Puget Sound area.
Big corporate and capitalist powerhouses like Amazon, Starbucks, and Boeing are also enforcing stricter in-office requirements. All of it essentially signals that remote work is no longer the standard for many large U.S. companies.
The Microsoft Controversy
Microsoft has laid off more than 15,000 employees in 2025. This has led to questions about whether its return-to-office policy is part of a bigger restructuring plan. By a restructuring plan, we mean a soft-layoff scheme. The company has also continued hiring through the H1-B visa program, which has drawn severe criticism from the locals.
Microsoft says these hiring decisions are not connected to staff cuts, but the move has raised concerns among tech workers and immigration observers.
Microsoft’s return-to-office policy is set to change commuting in the Puget Sound area. Over 53,000 employees work at its Redmond campus, making up nearly a quarter of its global workforce. The policy is expected to have a major impact on local traffic, among other things.
But then again, if these corporations had considered the real cost of the actions they take, we would not be where we are today.
The Local Effects of Bringing Workers Back
Other major employers in the region have brought back return-to-office rules. Amazon’s policy this year, which required staff to work full weeks on-site, has increased traffic in Seattle and nearby areas.
As more companies adopt similar rules, the change affects everyone, from employees to managers and everyone in between. It is also putting more pressure on roads and public transit as people adjust to commuting again.
Kevin O’Leary’s Blueprint for the Modern Workplace and Moving Past the 9-to-5 Mindset
Maybe the real question isn’t whether remote or office work is better, but which leaders are willing to adapt. O’Leary seems more interested in the future than the past.
At the end of the day, Mr Wonderful’s point is hard to argue with. People don’t need an office to do good work; they just need trust and clear goals.
