The Surprising Collapse of Strict Office Mandates in 2026

Empty modern corporate office desks bathed in afternoon sunlight as companies abandon strict return to office mandates

It was supposed to be the year everyone finally went back. Instead, the exact opposite unfolded. As of late February 2026, we’re watching a massive, mostly silent retreat from the rigid return-to-office mandates that dominated corporate headlines throughout 2025. You remember the atmosphere. CEOs were pounding tables. Badge swipes were tracked with unsettling precision. Thinly … Read more