Thousands Urge WPP to Reconsider Its 4-Day Return-to-Office Policy

New York: WPP employees are not happy about the company’s new four-day return-to-office rule. A petition has popped up, and it’s getting a lot of attention. Thousands have signed it, showing just how many people are against this change.

WPP’s CEO, Mark Read, announced that starting in April, employees would need to be in the office four days a week. He believes that working together in person leads to better results. However, since this news broke, WPP’s stock has dropped by 8%.

A group of concerned employees created a petition on Change.org, asking WPP to rethink its decision. They argue that this policy could hurt employee well-being and work-life balance. The petition highlights that strict work schedules can have serious mental and social effects on staff.

The creators of the petition want WPP’s leadership to reconsider and adopt a more flexible approach that respects employees’ needs. They aim to show just how unpopular this mandate is among the workforce.

In just four days, the petition gathered over 7,500 signatures, but it’s unclear how many of those are actual WPP employees. The petition’s creators are ready to verify the signatures if needed, especially if the leadership questions their legitimacy.

An anonymous WPP employee shared that there’s been a lot of disappointment about how the policy was rolled out. They feel that the company, which specializes in communication, could have handled this situation much better.

When asked about the backlash, a WPP spokesperson acknowledged that not everyone would be on board with the new policy. However, they believe it’s in the company’s best long-term interest. They plan to implement the policy thoughtfully, taking into account office capacity and other concerns.

Many companies have faced pushback over return-to-office policies. For instance, Deutsche Bank and SAP have also seen their employees express dissatisfaction with similar mandates.

Legal options for employees against these mandates are limited unless there are specific protected reasons. This leaves many workers with little choice but to comply or seek employment elsewhere. Some experts warn that these strict return-to-office rules could lead to higher turnover rates.

In the end, some companies are willing to risk losing talent to enforce their office policies, believing they can still attract new employees. It’s a tricky balance, and the conversation around remote work continues to evolve.