Nearly 1 year after JPMorgan enforced a full-time return-to-office policy, the decision remains a point of discussion among employees. In March 2026, it will mark 1 year since the largest US bank required staff to work from office 5 days a week, ending the hybrid model introduced during the pandemic.
JPMorgan, which employs more than 300,000 people globally, announced on January 10, 2025, that employees must return to office starting March 2025. Soon after CEO Jamie Dimon’s directive, a petition surfaced asking him to reverse the decision. The petition, still live online and addressed to chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon, highlights concerns over the loss of hybrid flexibility.
“We, the workers of JPMorganChase (JPMC), are concerned about the future of our workplace – its integrity, employee satisfaction, and the increasing toxicity that has metastasized in our company culture in the last couple of months,” the petition reads.
Some employees reportedly sought advice from the Communications Workers of America on forming a labor union, a rare move in the US finance sector. Nearly 1 year later, the petition has gathered about 2,000 signatures out of the bank’s more than 300,000 global workforce. According to a report in an international financial newspaper, some employees believe signing it could be considered ‘career suicide’.
Employees told the publication they were confused by management’s insistence on full-time office presence despite globally distributed teams. “My team is spread out through 2 continents and 3 time zones,” said 1 employee who signed the petition. “JPMorgan is a global company — why can’t that include my home office?” The employee added, “Hybrid is working and employees love the happy medium.”
Dimon addressed the issue during a Town Hall, where his remarks went viral. When asked about the policy, he said, “Don’t waste time on it. I don’t care how many people sign that fucking petition.” He stressed that employees have a choice to work at JPMorgan and that in-office rules would not be left to managers. “There is no chance that I will leave it up to managers. Zero chance. The abuse that took place is extraordinary.”
In interviews with business media outlets, Dimon said he respects employees who prefer remote work but maintained that the policy would not change. “I am not against working from home, I am against where it doesn’t work,” he said, noting that 10% of roles remain remote. Later, he added, “I completely applaud your right to not want to go to the office every day. But you’re not going to tell JPMorgan what to do.”
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