This is a very hot topic at the minute with a lot of big firms starting to call workers back into the office full time 5 days a week.

Over the past few years, we’ve seen a massive shift in how and where people work. Remote work became the norm during the pandemic, hybrid work took over as a “compromise,” and now, big companies are pulling employees back into the office—some even five days a week.

But is this the right move? Let’s break it down.

My Experience: Onsite, Hybrid, and Remote

Early in my career, I worked fully onsite. I then worked for a boss from Finland who implemented the now famous ‘hybrid’ model with 2 days a week at home which I found worked well—it gave me flexibility but still allowed for in-person collaboration when needed.

Now, I work in a remote role with a global team and some 3 hours commute from my nearest office, but my company has since shifted to a strict hybrid setup: three days a week in the office, and yes, it’s monitored.

I completely understand that not every job can be done remotely or hybrid—some roles require physical presence. But when you’re working with a globally distributed team, it makes no sense to force people into an office just for the sake of it. Remote or hybrid is the logical way to work in that case in my opinion, it also helps individuals achieve some kind of work / life balance.

So why are so many companies backtracking?

Why Are Companies Pushing for Onsite Work Again?

Over the last year, we’ve seen major firms—Amazon, JPMorgan, Tesla, and many more—mandating a return to the office. Some are even pushing for five days a week onsite.

Here’s why I think this is happening:

📉 Productivity concerns – Some leaders still believe employees work better when they’re physically present.

🏢 Office space costs – Companies with huge office leases don’t want empty desks.

👥 Culture & collaboration – The argument that in-person work leads to better teamwork.

📊 Old-school leadership – Some execs just don’t trust employees to get the job done remotely.

But here’s my take: I believe a lot of this is about cost-cutting without layoffs. If companies make it difficult for remote workers, some will leave—reducing headcount without formal redundancies. It’s also being driven by leadership that still thinks “butts in seats” equals productivity.

The Pros & Cons of Each Work Model

Remote Work: A Short-Lived Revolution?

During the pandemic, companies like Twitter (now X) and Shopify went fully remote. It seemed like the future. But now, even those companies are pulling back.

✅ No commuting = more time and money saved

✅ More flexibility and better work-life balance

✅ Access to a wider talent pool

✅ Employees can be productive without distractions

❌ Harder to build company culture

❌ Some roles struggle with collaboration

❌ Career growth can feel slower without in-person visibility

❌ Work-life boundaries can blur

Hybrid Work: The Best of Both Worlds?

Hybrid work became the middle ground—some days remote, some days in the office.

✅ Keeps flexibility while allowing in-person collaboration

✅ Helps maintain company culture

✅ Gives employees some control over their schedule

✅ Companies can reduce office space costs

❌ Commutes still exist (even if less often)

❌ Some employees get more flexibility than others

❌ Some companies struggle to enforce policies

❌ Not all industries can support hybrid work

Onsite Work: A Return to the Old Ways?

Some companies are going back to full-time onsite work, despite employee push back.

✅ Easier team collaboration

✅ Stronger company culture (in theory)

✅ Clear work-life separation (leave work at the office)

✅ Visibility for career growth

❌ Commutes add time and cost

❌ Less flexibility for employees

❌ Potential hit to morale and retention

❌ Many roles don’t need to be done in an office

Is Hybrid Here to Stay?

I assumed hybrid work was here for good—and I still think it is. But I can see more companies trying to push people back into offices over time.

For me, a strict office policy wouldn’t work. There are plenty of employers offering remote or hybrid roles, and I think those models show trust in employees. That’s a big factor in where I’d choose to work.

What Do You Think?

Where do you stand? Do you prefer remote, hybrid, or full-time onsite? And do you think these return-to-office mandates are necessary—or just outdated thinking? Let me know in the comments!