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The home office is at risk! Big-name CEOs, inspired by Elon Musk, are pushing for a return to the office. Companies like Amazon and Salesforce are already requiring physical presence, and even rewards are being given to those who work in person.
Remote work, which became a reality for millions of people during the pandemic, may have its days numbered.
Although many professionals have adapted and valued the flexibility provided by working from home, a new trend has been gaining strength among business leaders: the demand for a return to in-person work.
CEOs of large corporations are following in the footsteps of Elon Musk and arguing that office work is more productive, efficient and essential for professional growth.
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Growing pressure for in-person return
According to the latest “CEO Outlook” study, conducted by consultancy KPMG, most executives believe that home office will lose strength in the coming years.
The survey interviewed more than 1.300 CEOs around the world and revealed a clear trend: 79% of business leaders in the United States expect work that was previously done remotely to return to being fully in-person by 2027.
The change is significant, since at the beginning of 2024, only 34% of CEOs shared this opinion.
Meanwhile, the bet on hybrid models fell from 46% to 17%, only 4% of respondents believe that remote work will continue to be a viable option.
Elon Musk and the fight against home office
Among the most vocal executives against remote work, Elon Musk has been a leading advocate for returning to the office.
The billionaire, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has a radical position on the subject: he declared that working from home is “nonsense” and threatened to fire any Tesla employee who insisted on working remotely.
Musk argues that the physical presence of employees is essential for productivity, innovation and efficiency within companies.
This approach has influenced other big names in the market, leading multinationals to adopt stricter rules for office presence.
Giants like Amazon, Dell and Salesforce also decided to reduce the flexibility of remote work, requiring employees to appear at least some days of the week to the office.
Companies that were born with a home office model, such as Nothing, also began to review their guidelines and began to prioritize regular face-to-face meetings.
Promotions and salary increases for those who attend
The KPMG study also revealed a worrying trend for remote work enthusiasts: 86% of CEOs said that employees who show up in person will be prioritized for promotions and pay raises.
This movement indicates that, even if productivity is not directly related to physical presence, those who frequent offices will have more opportunities for growth within companies.
In some European countries, there are already discussions about salary differences between on-site and remote workers, which may further reduce the adoption of home office.
Why do CEOs want employees back?
The preference for returning to the office is linked to several factors.
According to executives interviewed in the KPMG survey, the main reasons include:
- Greater control over teams: In a physical environment, leaders believe they can better supervise employee performance.
- Ease of knowledge exchange: In-person work allows for faster interactions and informal learning among professionals.
- Cybersecurity: Companies fear that working from home will increase their vulnerability to hacker attacks and data leaks.
- Economic impact: With the need to occupy already rented offices, many corporations want to avoid financial losses.
Are the hybrid model's days numbered?
In recent years, the hybrid model has emerged as a middle ground between home office and in-person work.
However, research suggests that this option is losing strength.
While 46% of CEOs supported the hybrid model in 2024, that number has dropped to just 17% in 2025.
Companies that initially adopted flexibility, such as Amazon and Salesforce, are reviewing their policies and requiring mandatory physical presence.
This movement indicates that, in the near future, the hybrid model may become the exception, not the rule.
And Brazil? Will it abolish home office?
The trend of returning to the office in United States and in Europe it can directly impact the job market in Brazil.
Multinational companies operating in the country may follow the same path, requiring their employees to return to the in-person model.
However, Home office is still valued by many Brazilian professionals, who see flexibility as an important achievement.
The question that remains is: Is remote work really less productive, or is this just an attempt by CEOs to regain control over their teams?
The debate is far from over, and the future of home office remains uncertain.
And you, what do you think?
Is it fair that only on-site employees are rewarded or should remote work be valued as well?
I see working from home as a way of improving quality of life. Of course, people need to be responsible with their work, but how productive will someone who spends 2 or 3 hours commuting have at work? Only those who live near the company are in favor of returning to the office.
And the married ones!
Can you imagine the number of people who organized themselves to perform this function? Women, mothers, professionals over 50, who invested in tools? It will be a setback!
Do these CEOs only think about themselves?
Changing the hybrid beauty model, going to the company weekly, 1 monthly meeting, but ending it, would not be interesting.
I think that those who work from home have no rights, this is a luxury.
It really is a luxury for those who can and are confident as good professionals! There will always be a home for the good ones!