Meta has rolled out a significant change in its work policy, requiring employees to return to the office for a minimum of three days a week.

This move marks a notable shift from the remote work policies that Meta had adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In June, Meta had officially informed its employees that they would be expected to be present in the office for at least three days per week, starting in September. A spokesperson for Meta stated, “We believe that distributed work will continue to be important in the future, particularly as our technology improves.” The company emphasized its commitment to creating a valuable in-person experience for employees who choose to work from the office.

However, Meta did not mince words when it came to compliance with the new policy. Weeks before the policy’s implementation, the company issued warnings to employees who failed to adhere to the mandate, emphasizing the possibility of termination. Lori Goler, Meta’s Head of People, conveyed this message in a memo, stating, “Accountability will be central to making this [policy] fair and effective,” and managers would review attendance records monthly.

Repeat “violators”

Repeated violations could lead to disciplinary actions, including performance rating drops and, ultimately, termination if not addressed.

This pivot in policy comes after Meta’s initial embrace of remote work during the pandemic. In the past, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg praised the flexibility of remote work, even expressing optimism about its potential at scale, thanks to advancements in virtual presence and technology.

However, in March of the same year, Zuckerberg changed his tune, stating in a blog post that employees earlier in their careers perform better when working in-person with colleagues for at least three days a week.