Microsoft’s Office Return Reflects Growing Industry Trend

Microsoft weighs stricter attendance rules as companies continue pulling back from pandemic-era flexibility

The corporate world’s return-to-office momentum appears to be accelerating in the second half of 2025, with Microsoft now joining a growing list of technology companies reconsidering their flexible work policies. The software giant is evaluating a mandate that would require employees to work from offices at least three days per week, potentially marking the end of its more lenient approach that has allowed most staff to work remotely up to half their time without explicit approval.

The potential policy shift, which could take effect as early as January for some locations, including Microsoft’s Redmond, Washington headquarters, underscores how dramatically the workplace landscape ha