JPMorgan Chase employees have launched a petition opposing the bank's recent decision to eliminate remote work and require all staff to return to the office five days a week starting March 2024.
The petition, posted on coworker.org on February 9th, has gathered nearly 600 signatures from workers who strongly object to CEO Jamie Dimon's mandate ending the current hybrid work model.
In their petition, employees expressed deep concerns about the impact on workplace culture and called the full return-to-office requirement "a great leap backward." They argued it would disproportionately affect women, caregivers, senior employees, and those with disabilities - many of whom joined the company under hybrid work arrangements.
Workers highlighted practical challenges with the mandate, noting that most employees won't be working from the bank's new headquarters but rather in crowded corporate offices lacking adequate space, parking, and amenities. They described these locations as "noisy, inefficient, and uncomfortable."
The petition states that management had previously assured employees that hybrid work would remain permanent, leading many to make life decisions based on these commitments. The sudden policy reversal has "sharply undermined trust" between staff and leadership, according to the document.
Despite raising these issues internally, employees claim their concerns have been "repeatedly dismissed or silenced," leaving them feeling "betrayed and devalued."
The workers are requesting that JPMorgan Chase:
- Maintain the existing hybrid work model
- Expand hybrid work opportunities across more job categories
- Allow remote workers to access any Chase office in their region
CEO Jamie Dimon defended the decision in a company memo, stating that in-person work "greatly enhances mentoring, learning, brainstorming and getting things done." He acknowledged that while some prefer hybrid arrangements, the bank believes full-time office work is "the best way to run the company."
JPMorgan Chase's move aligns with similar policies recently implemented by other major corporations, including Amazon and Dell. However, recent Pew Research Center data shows that 75% of employed American adults work remotely at least part-time, with 46% indicating they would likely leave their jobs if remote work options were eliminated.