While some workers are being mandated to return to the office, a growing majority of workers now say they want to “microshift” their workday. Unlike hybrid or remote schedules, in which you work remotely some or all of the time, microshifting is about making small adjustments to your start times, breaks and hours rather than adhering to a rigid nine-to-five schedule. Must Read In Owl Labs’ 2025 State of Hybrid Work report, 65% of workers say they’re interested in microshifting, which it defines as “str ...

Key Takeaways If you worked from home, you wouldn't need to commute, saving you hundreds of hours per year. You'd also save money on gas, eating out, and more. If you worked at the office and had a higher salary, you could get your finances in order: pay down debt, build your emergency fund, and save for your goals, including retirement. The question of whether to work at home—but for half the salary of an equivalent office job—has inspired a viral debate with millions of online views. After all, sa ...

Last year marked a major shift in return-to-office mandates. For the first time since the pandemic, more than half of Fortune 100 companies moved from hybrid setups to fully in-office policies. But Mark Dixon, CEO and founder of International Workplace Group (IWG), has a message for JPMorgan boss Jamie Dimon, Amazon’s Andy Jassy, and any CEO demanding a return to the office: You’re not serious about AI. From his vantage point, running the world’s largest flexible office provider—with more than 8 million ...

Investor and ‘Shark Tank’ TV personality Kevin O’Leary has a message for companies still clinging to the idea of mandatory in-office work: you’re scaring off your best people. Flexibility Has Replaced The Cubicle “Cubicles are dead,” O’Leary said in a recent post on X. “Top programmers, accountants, and operators moved away and they’re not returning. If you force people back into offices, you’ll only hire the bottom quartile.” Don't Miss: The ‘ChatGPT of Marketing' Just Opened a $0.85/Share Round — 10,0 ...

Group 1 - LinkedIn is leading workplace transformation by redefining future work trends, emphasizing flexibility, skills prioritization, and career development [1] - The platform has over 800 million users across more than 200 countries, serving as a vital channel for job seekers and companies for recruitment and brand building [1] Group 2 - Recent changes in job trends on LinkedIn include the rise of remote work, flexible hours, and gig economy roles, with new job types like data analysts and user experience designers emerging [2] - Job titles on LinkedIn are becoming increasingly diverse, with new roles such as "content marketing specialist" and "digital transformation consultant" that did not exist a few years ago [4] Group 3 - The variety of job types on LinkedIn is expanding, with traditional roles being complemented by emerging professions like freelancers and remote workers [4] - Users have shared experiences of finding unique job opportunities on LinkedIn, highlighting the platform's role in showcasing diverse career possibilities [4] Group 4 - To seize career opportunities on LinkedIn, job seekers are advised to regularly browse job postings, stay updated on industry trends, and enhance their profiles to attract recruiters [4][5] - The importance of maintaining complete personal information on LinkedIn, including profile pictures and work experiences, is emphasized as it affects first impressions [5] Group 5 - Despite the abundance of job information on LinkedIn, challenges remain in the competitive job market, necessitating continuous skill enhancement and a commitment to learning [5][6] - The future workplace is characterized by both opportunities and challenges, with the need for professionals to adapt to rapidly changing job demands [6]

Core Insights - The demand for experienced remote and hybrid technology and professional services personnel is slightly stronger than for in-office positions, despite high-profile return-to-office mandates from companies like JPMorgan Chase and Microsoft [1] Group 1: Demand Trends - Global demand for remote and hybrid professionals increased by 19.8% in Q4 2025 compared to Q4 2024, and by 10.9% for the entire year of 2025 versus 2024 [2] - Demand for similar professionals across all work models, including remote, hybrid, and in-office roles, increased by 19.4% in Q4 2025 versus Q4 2024 and by 10.4% for the full year 2025 versus 2024 [2] - A slight decline in demand for remote and hybrid talent of 4% was noted in the late-year contraction, while the broader experienced market, including in-office roles, showed a larger decline of 4.7% [4] Group 2: Work Environment Stability - Office occupancy in major U.S. markets has recovered from pandemic lows but remains below 2019 levels, indicating a more stable phase for distributed work [5] - Companies are beginning to identify when in-person collaboration is essential and when work can be done remotely, reflecting an emerging equilibrium between remote, hybrid, and in-office work [5] Group 3: Strategic Employment - Firms employing remote and hybrid teams can access larger and more diverse talent pools and hire faster, particularly when scaling or experimenting with new capabilities [7] - The shift towards remote work and AI adoption indicates a more deliberate approach to the future of work, with companies making clearer choices about work locations and technology integration [6]

Core Insights - AT&T has mandated a return to the office five days a week, moving away from hybrid work arrangements to enhance collaboration and innovation [1][2] - The company is relocating its headquarters from Dallas to Plano, Texas, consolidating three locations into a new campus designed for modern work needs [4][5] - A significant trend is emerging where many companies are increasing in-office workdays to strengthen company culture and productivity, with 28% of companies requiring full-time office presence by 2025 [7] Company Policy Changes - AT&T's updated return-to-office policy aims to drive collaboration and innovation, reflecting a broader trend among companies to enhance workplace culture [2][3] - The company faced criticism for inadequate office facilities following the policy change, prompting a reevaluation of workspace needs [3][4] - CEO John Stankey emphasized the need for a workspace that aligns with the company's evolving operational requirements, committing to invest in modern facilities [5][9] Industry Trends - A survey indicates that by 2026, 1 in 8 companies plan to increase required in-office days, with 30% not allowing remote work at all [7] - The main reasons for this shift include strengthening company culture (64%) and improving productivity (62%) [7] - Employee feedback has shown a significant desire for remote work, with 76% indicating they would seek new employment if remote options were eliminated [17]

Core Insights - The office products industry is experiencing significant challenges due to the rise of remote work, increased digitization, and changing workplace habits, which are all contributing to a decline in demand for traditional office supplies [1] Industry Summary - Remote work trends are reshaping the demand landscape, leading to a decrease in the consumption of conventional office products [1] - Digitization is further exacerbating the decline, as more businesses adopt digital solutions over physical supplies [1] - Shifting workplace habits indicate a long-term transformation in how companies operate, impacting the overall market for office products [1]

Core Insights - Empire State Realty Trust Inc. (NYSE:ESRT) is facing significant challenges due to structural shifts in the retail and office space dynamics post-COVID, leading to a decline in its stock price and Growth score in Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings [1][5] Group 1: Company Performance - The Growth score for Empire State Realty Trust has dropped from 44.61 to 30.1 within a week, influenced by analysts like Wells Fargo reducing their price targets for the stock [3] - The company has consistently missed top-line estimates in recent quarters, with earnings declining due to the ongoing remote/hybrid work trend and a slowdown in tourism [4] - The stock has decreased by 35.99% year-to-date and 7% over the past month, reflecting poor Momentum and Growth scores in Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings [5] Group 2: Market Dynamics - The decline in the company's performance is attributed to the structural changes in the post-COVID environment, particularly affecting the office and retail sectors [1][4] - The assessment of the Growth score in Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings considers both short and long-term trends in earnings and revenue growth, indicating a significant downturn for the company [2]

Core Insights - The return-to-office trend is shifting, with remote work becoming a status symbol, particularly for high-performing employees [1][2] - A new hierarchy is emerging where only top talent can secure fully remote roles, while others are expected to return to the office [2][4] - The hybrid work model is becoming the norm, with most employees working three to four days in the office and some days from home [3][5] Group 1: Return-to-Office Mandate - Instagram employees are among many facing a return-to-office mandate in 2025, indicating a broader trend in the workforce [1] - The CEO of Randstad suggests that the return-to-office war is over, and a new pecking order based on talent has emerged [1][2] Group 2: Hybrid Work Model - The hybrid model is characterized by flexibility, with firms moving away from traditional 9-to-5 schedules [3] - Korn Ferry's research supports the idea of a "new hybrid hierarchy," where flexibility is a perk for star performers [3][5] Group 3: Talent and Flexibility - Workers with scarce skills can negotiate for fully remote or flexible work arrangements, while those in junior roles have less leverage [4] - High performers are already being offered flexible schedules as a reward for their contributions, while mid-range performers do not enjoy the same privileges [5] - As hiring slows and pay increases stall, flexibility remains a key tool for employers to retain valuable talent [6]