JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has thrown his hat into the ring of the ongoing debate about remote work, calling for federal employees in Washington, D.C., to return to their offices. Speaking at The Atlantic Festival, Dimon voiced his frustration with the number of empty buildings in the capital, a direct consequence of the widespread adoption of remote work policies. “By the way, I’d also make Washington, DC, go back to work. I can’t believe, when I come down here, the empty buildings. The people who work for you not going to the office,” he remarked, adding, “That bothers me.” Dimon emphasized that he doesn’t tolerate such flexibility at JPMorgan, highlighting a stark contrast between his firm’s policy and the prevailing trend in the federal government.
Dimon isn’t alone in his stance. Earlier this week, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy announced that Amazon employees would be returning to the office five days a week, a return to pre-pandemic norms. JPMorgan’s policy mandates managing directors to be in the office full-time, while other employees must work in person at least three days a week. Last year, the Biden Administration also pushed for federal employees to return to in-person work, but the results have been mixed. Many federal workers still enjoy flexible work arrangements, with some agencies requiring only limited in-office presence. For example, certain Environmental Protection Agency employees are required to be in the office only four days a month. Other agencies, such as the Department of the Treasury and the Department of the Interior, mandate at least 50% in-office presence.
Despite these efforts, office vacancy rates in Washington, D.C., remain stubbornly high. According to CBRE, about 22% of office space remained empty in the second quarter of 2024, a trend driven by both the federal government and private-sector offices. The debate over remote work continues, and it’s clear that the future of work remains a complex and evolving landscape.
