Microsoft exec sends stern warning to staff about returning to office

Microsoft (MSFT) has quietly given its staff a major update on remote work just days after Amazon unveiled its own plan to bring its employees back to the office five days a week starting next year.

During an internal meeting, Microsoft Cloud + AI Group Executive Vice President Scott Guthrie told employees that the company’s remote work policy is not set in stone, according to a new report from Business Insider.

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Microsoft currently has a hybrid remote work policy, which was adopted in February 2022, where most employees are expected to work in the office 50% of the time.

Guthrie allegedly warned staff during the meeting that Microsoft would not return to office work five days a week unless it saw a lag in productivity.

Microsoft did not immediately respond to TheStreet’s request for comment.

Related: Amazon confirms fears about future of remote work with latest move

Productivity so far doesn’t seem to be a problem for Microsoft. While its employees have been on a hybrid remote work schedule since 2022, the company grew its revenue by 15% year-over-year in the fourth quarter of 2024, according to the company’s latest earnings report. Specifically, Microsoft Cloud revenue skyrocketed 21% year over year.

Guthrie’s comments come as Amazon faces backlash from its employees over its plans to return to office work five days a week. A recent survey by Blind found that 73% of Amazon employees are considering looking for another job because of the new policy.

According to a recent post on Blind, candidates who recently applied for jobs at Amazon have withdrawn their applications en masse due to the company’s updated RTO policy.

Andrew Ross Sorkin speaks with Amazon CEO Andy Jassy during the New York Times DealBook Summit in Appel Room at Jazz At Lincoln Center on November 30, 2022 in New York City.

Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Job candidates nationwide are looking for positions that allow for remote work

David Overmars, careers and CV expert at Jobseeker, claims that more job candidates nationally are looking for “jobs where you work alone”.

“People are now choosing how they work best, often finding a strong routine with a work environment that aligns with their personal lives and values,” said Overmars. “For some, this is a hybrid between the office and working from home; for others, it means finding a role where they can work entirely on their own, according to current search trends. There was a 9,900% increase in demand for Americans looking for ‘jobs where you work alone’ in September, showing just how varied people’s preferred work practices have become.”

More work:

• Sony’s Bungie came under fire for layoffs after CEO spent millions
• Dell makes a tough move, reinforcing fears about the future of work
• Former Google CEO responds to outrage over remote work comments

Overmars also said reintroducing policies requiring workers to return to the office five days a week could be “exceptionally challenging in sectors where it’s not necessary”, especially as job candidates prefer roles that allow for a more flexible schedule.

“All of this is not to say that the concept of a five-day office week is something that organizations should avoid entirely,” Overmars said. “Some candidates may prefer this way of working and benefit greatly from being in a more regular office environment. What social trends are telling us is that people are becoming more likely to find a role appealing if it allows flexibility in how people want to live and work, rather than being at odds with their values.”

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