—Beginning in January, all employees company-wide will need to return three days a week, expanding the policy enforced for the company’s digital unit.—
by Sabrina Sanchez
All Publicis employees globally will be required to return to the office three days a week, including mandatory presence on Mondays and no consecutive remote working days, beginning on Jan. 1, according to an internal memo obtained by Campaign US.
In a video shared with staff on Tuesday that was sent to Campaign US (see it below), Publicis Groupe chairman and CEO Arthur Sadoun detailed the requirements of the new policy, prefacing his remarks by saying that the agency network has made efforts to maintain the “best of both in-person and remote working” since the start of the pandemic.
“But, almost three years later, we have to admit that a disproportionate part of remote working is actually leading to siloed work, less collaboration, sometimes stunted creativity, fewer innovations and decreasing productivity,” he said in the video.
The new policy will require all employees to be in the office—either Publicis’ or their clients’—for a minimum of three days a week. No one will be permitted to work remotely for more than one consecutive day. Everyone will also need to be in-person on Mondays to “make sure [everyone] kickstarts the week together,” Sadoun said in the video.
In other words, employees will be required to come in on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, or Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Medical exceptions and remote contracts already established will be honoured.
“I sincerely believe that we are at our best when we are together. We can support, inspire and care for each other. And while it’s not impossible to do all of these things from our screens, I think we should admit that it is actually harder,” he continued. “It is now time for all of us to find the right balance between the benefits of working from home that we want to keep, and being in the office, as together we are definitely stronger.”
The policy draws a very clear line in the sand for the company after it sent an internal memo in August that outlined in-office requirements for its digital unit. At the time, it said those who don’t comply could also see a potential negative impact on performance outcomes, including loss of promotion opportunities, raises and more.
The updates come as Campaign US’ return to office survey found that advertising employees have bristled at new mandates, preferring hybrid options that offer more flexibility.
Publicis Groupe did not respond to requests for comment in time for publication.
This article originally appeared at Campaign US.
