The spotlight on stricter office attendance policies is getting brighter with NBCUniversal joining its fellow media giants in demanding its employees show up more frequently.
The New York-based entertainment conglomerate told employees that, starting January 2026, all hybrid workers would be required to commute to the office at least four days a week, according to a memo company executives sent earlier this week. Those who are disinclined to adhere to the mandate, an escalation from at least three days weekly, can instead choose a "voluntary exit assistance package," echoing stances other companies have taken as they roll out firmer in-person demands.
"It has become increasingly clear that we are better when we are together," Adam Miller, NBCUniversal's chief operating officer, wrote in the memo. "As we have all experienced, in-person work and collaboration spark innovation, promote creativity, and build stronger connections.".
The company leases nearly 971,600 square feet for its headquarters at Midtown Manhattan's iconic Rockefeller Center skyscraper, also referred to as 30 Rock. NBCUniversal, which oversees the NBC broadcast network, Universal Studios and the Peacock streaming service, will continue to provide employees the option to work remotely on Fridays, even though Miller wrote that its "offices are open daily, and we encourage everyone to take full advantage of working together in person."
NBCUniversal's new attendance policy aligns with the one its parent company, Comcast, began enforcing in September 2023. It also lands just a few days after fellow media giant Paramount Skydance gave its employees two weeks to decide whether to return to the office full time or accept a severance package, as the company plans to ramp up its attendance requirements.
Companies nationwide are demanding more in-person time from employees, either by revoking remote work privileges, increasing the number of days they're required to be in an office or asking a portion of the workforce to relocate closer to a corporate hub.
Landlords optimistic
Escalated mandates have fueled optimism among national office landlords looking to retain their portfolio occupancy as tenants have slashed real estate to trim costs and adjust to flexible post-pandemic work policies.
Some of the country's largest landlords have said that stricter in-office mandates are enough to bolster optimism that the demand for space will climb as corporate heavyweights push to revert to their pre-pandemic workweek schedules.
The demand for office space has been building since the start of the year as corporate heavy hitters such as Amazon, Starbucks, Target, Dell and Salesforce push for more stringent in-person requirements. The number of CEOs who believed their companies would adopt a full return to a five-day workweek climbed to about 85% from the 64% reported in 2023, according to a recent KPMG survey.
The number of Fortune 100 companies that now require a five-day workweek in the office has soared to about 55% compared with the 5% reported two years ago, according to a recent JLL survey. Hybrid mandates have plummeted from about 80% to roughly 40% over the same period, and only 1% of companies continue to allow fully remote policies.
Revised mandates, such as NBCUniversal's, also underscore the power that companies are leveraging as the national job market weakens and employers no longer face the steep competition for talent displayed in the earlier years of the pandemic. As a result, companies — particularly those embarking on broader turnaround and restructuring efforts — are pulling the plug on flexible work policies and reinforcing their commitment to in-person work.
"We understand not everyone will agree with this approach," Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol recently told employees of the company's return to a five-day workweek. "But as a company built on human connection, and given the scale of the turnaround ahead, we believe this is the right path."