Good news for Microsoft employees. The company is easing its return to office policies to help employees balance work and life. In September 2025, the company announced to its employees a mandate to return to the office at least 3 days a week. But now, Microsoft has asked its employees to return to the office in a more relaxed manner. Workers in sales and client-facing roles are offered flexible work options (including remote work). So, how is Microsoft doing this? How are the other companies dealing with the in-office and remote work for their employees? For all that, learn more.
Why Is Microsoft Doing This?
According to Microsoft, roles like commercial sales and solution engineering have unique needs. These roles require employees to travel extensively and attend client meetings, making the in-office work rules seem unnecessary. That’s the reason why these roles are offered the flexibility to work remotely.
Plus, Microsoft wants to balance employee freedom with business needs. And don’t want to force or pressure its employees to be back in the office.
The Bigger Picture of Work-Life in Tech Now
Unlike Microsoft, many tech companies are getting stricter with their rules about in-office work:
- Dell: The company mandated its employees to work from the office on March 3, 2025. Even its sales teams started working 5 days a week in the office.
- Amazon: The company asked its employees to work from the office 5 days a week, starting January 2, 2025.
These companies believe that working in person enhances their teamwork, creativity, and productivity.
Microsoft’s Approach
- The company is taking more of a softer, flexible stance compared to the other tech giants in the market right now.
- The details of who will return to the office and who’ll have the liberty to work from home are still not officially confirmed. However, an internal memo provided insight into the future of work at Microsoft.
- But several reports suggest that sales roles are exempt from the in-office rules.
Industry Trend
- Post-pandemic companies have slowly started going back to offices. However, many still worked from home. Early this year, several companies sent memos to return to offices 3 – 5 days a week.
- About half of Fortune 500 desk jobs are now back in the office completely. Additionally, many companies have fired thousands of employees to make their teams leaner and more productive.
- So, asking to return to offices has become a more convenient scenario for tech giants. However, Microsoft has found a middle ground. Not too strict and not fully remote.
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