Microsoft Requires Three Days In-Office Work From February 2026

Microsoft has announced a new return-to-office policy requiring employees living within 50 miles of its Redmond, Washington headquarters to work onsite three days per week starting February 2026. This mandate will roll out in phases, beginning with the Puget Sound area before expanding to other U.S. and international locations, with details forthcoming. Exceptions are available for roles like account management, consulting, and field marketing, as well as for employees facing long commutes or lacking local teammates, with requests accepted through mid-September. The policy aims to boost in-person collaboration, which Microsoft says leads to greater energy, empowerment, and stronger results, especially important for innovation in the AI era. This shift aligns Microsoft with other tech giants such as Google and Meta, which also require three days onsite, while Amazon has returned to a five-day in-office workweek. The move comes amid significant layoffs at Microsoft but is positioned as a strategy to better meet customer needs rather than a headcount reduction measure.