RTO or resignation? Why Paramount, JPMorgan Chase and others are taking a hard line on in-office work

Despite being nearly six years past the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the debate over return-to-office wages on, colliding with ongoing efforts to cut costs, drive efficiencies with AI and navigate an uncertain economy.

The RTO push took on new momentum at the start of 2025, as the Trump administration gave thousands of federal employees an ultimatum: Return to the office or resign, with some experts predicting private employers would follow suit. As predicted, the year is now closing out with a wave of similar headlines. READ MORE