Hybrid and remote options continue to shrink across tech sector
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Amazon, Apple and Meta have also forced staff to return to the office
IBM has told its US sales staff to return to the office at least three days each week, forcing some to relocate.
The move comes as the company continues to rejig and tighten its workplace policies, with employees expected to work from client sites, flagship offices or sales hubs. Some workers in Dallas have also been informed they will need to relocate to Austin in 2026.
According to an internal memo seen by The Register, IBM’s management is positioning this shift as a “return to client initiative,” claiming that being physically closer to customers will help sales teams build stronger relationships and improve results.
Employees who live more than 50 miles from their assigned site will be offered relocation benefits to help them move closer. Sales hubs are available as a workplace option only for staff who manage more than one dedicated account.
Currently, IBM operates five flagship offices for this initiative in New York, Austin, Raleigh, Washington DC and the San Francisco Bay Area. An additional eight sales hubs are located in Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Seattle. The company has indicated that more hubs may be added in the future.
IBM has already issued a similar return-to-office order to its US cloud employees. They are expected to follow the same three-day attendance model, with a compliance deadline in July and relocation options open until October. A specific timeline for the sales division has not been confirmed.
This latest RTO approach follows the company’s trend back towards office-based work. In 2024, IBM required all US managers to return to offices under a phased “co-location” programme. The initiative, which now affects most US staff, follows similar return mandates issued by IBM Consulting and Software divisions in 2023.
The broader tech sector is seeing similar moves. Last September, Amazon implemented a five-day office requirement for many roles, while Apple and Meta have adopted a three-day hybrid model.
In contrast, firms like Airbnb and Atlassian continue to support more flexible or remote-first arrangements.
IBM’s latest three-day mandate places it mid-range within the industry, offering less flexibility than some but stopping short of a full-time return to office.