Employees living within 50 miles of Microsoft HQ must return to office three days a week by February 2026, starting with Redmond campus.
Microsoft has announced a mandatory return-to-office policy, requiring employees living near its headquarters to work onsite at least three days a week by February 2026. The decision marks a major shift from the work-from-home model widely adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The new policy will be implemented in three phases, according to a blog post shared by Amy Coleman, Microsoft’s Chief People Officer.
- The rollout will begin with employees located near the Redmond, Washington headquarters,
- followed by other U.S. locations,
- and finally, international offices in 2026.
“This change is designed to bring people together while still allowing flexibility,” the blog noted.
The company clarified that the policy would initially apply to employees living within a 50-mile radius of Microsoft’s HQ, and timelines for other U.S. offices will be announced soon. Plans for international offices are set to begin next year.
Microsoft joins a growing list of tech companies, such as Amazon, that are scaling back remote work flexibility and pushing employees to return to physical office spaces as part of a hybrid work strategy.
This shift comes amid broader changes in workplace culture, as companies aim to balance productivity, collaboration, and employee well-being in a post-pandemic world.
