‘I don’t care how many people sign that f**ing petition’ JPMorgan CEO Insists on Return-to-Office Mandate

Dimon dismisses hybrid work concerns, tells employees they can stay or leave as bank enforces full-time office return.

February 17, 2025: JPMorgan CEO Defends Rigid Office Mandate

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has made it clear that he has no intention of reconsidering the bank’s strict five-day return-to-office (RTO) policy, despite growing resistance from employees. During a recent town hall meeting, Dimon outright rejected an internal petition pushing for more flexible work arrangements.

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“Don’t waste time on it. I don’t care how many people sign that f**ing petition,”* he said, according to a Reuters-reviewed recording.

In January, the banking giant notified its 317,000 employees that hybrid work would officially come to an end, requiring all staff to return to the office full-time starting February 2025. The decision sparked backlash, with over 1,200 employees signing a petition citing concerns about work-life balance, retention, and efficiency.

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However, Dimon remained firm, telling employees, “It’s a free country,” implying that those unhappy with the policy were free to leave.

“Where Is Everybody Else?” Dimon Criticizes Remote Work Culture

Dimon has long been vocal about his disapproval of remote work, claiming it negatively impacts productivity. According to Barron’s, he justified his stance by stating, “I’ve been working seven days a goddamn week since COVID, and I come in, and—where is everybody else?”

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He specifically called out remote work on Fridays, arguing that employees were harder to reach. “Don’t give me that work-from-home Friday works,” he said. “I call a lot of people on Fridays, and there’s not a goddamn person you can get a hold of.”

Employee Fired (Then Rehired) for Questioning the Mandate

In a surprising turn of events, JPMorgan analyst Nicholas Welch was reportedly fired shortly after questioning Dimon’s strict RTO mandate during the town hall. Welch, who was going through a divorce and needed flexibility, suggested that lower-level managers should have discretion over office attendance. His remarks were met with applause but were swiftly dismissed by Dimon.

Following the meeting, Welch’s supervisor asked him to clear his desk and leave. However, within hours, a senior executive reversed the decision, reinstating him.

Job Cuts Amid RTO Controversy

As JPMorgan doubles down on its office attendance policy, the bank has also begun notifying employees of upcoming layoffs. The firm plans to cut fewer than 1,000 jobs in February, with additional reductions scheduled throughout 2025. While the layoffs account for only 0.3% of its workforce, JPMorgan has assured employees that hiring will continue in certain areas and that some impacted workers may be redeployed.

With Dimon’s unwavering stance, JPMorgan employees face a choice—comply with the new rules or find work elsewhere.

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JPMorgan, Jamie Dimon, return to office, remote work, work from home, office mandate, layoffs, banking sector, corporate culture, Wall Street, hybrid work, finance news