IBM has issued a directive that demands their managers who have been working remotely to either move closer to a corporate office or possibly leave the company. The company now insists that all its managers in the US must be physically present in an office or at a client location at least three days a week. This is regardless of their current arrangement of working from home. The company will use data from badge-ins to measure individual attendance, which will be reported to managers and human resources, according to a memo issued by Senior Vice President John Granger.
This move underscores IBM's dedication to returning to in-person work, reflecting a broader trend seen among companies as they adapt to the future of work arrangements in the era after the pandemic. As per an internal memo from Bloomberg, dated January 16, those working remotely, barring medical or military service exceptions, must relocate to a location near an IBM office by the start of August if they don't already live within a commutable distance to a facility.
Granger stated that managers who disagree with relocation and cannot obtain a remote-working approved role must leave IBM. He clarified, "IBM is focused on providing a work environment that blends flexibility with in-person interactions that boost productivity, innovation, and our ability to serve our clients. Consistently with that mindset, we are demanding that executives and managerial staff in the United States be in the office at least three days each week."
