CEO of JP Morgan Jamie Dimon has come out against remote work just like other CEOs who are in a war with remote work — and he is pretty harsh in his comments.
While a lot of companies are still unsure about if they want to adopt a hybrid model or not, Dimon has already made up his mind and quite loudly too: in his opinion the future of work is definitely not at home but rather in a big office building.
Dimon was very direct when he talked at the event.
"I am not mocking Zoom," he admitted, "but it is the case that younger people are in a difficult situation. Their social lives are going down. And even we, the management, when we meet like on Hollywood Squares, the talk is not as honest."
He maintains that remote work removes the corporate culture that was highly creative because it was spontaneous — those random moments in the hallway where new ideas were born, mentorships formed, and careers got accelerated.
According to Dimon, the working from home arrangement may spare a person from taking a long trip but at the same time, it costs the person collaboration and maybe professional growth as well.
Dimon’s opinion is supported by something much bigger than words: a building. JP Morgan's brand new $3 billion New York headquarters is more than just another office tower, it's a declaration. Consider it as one of the major psychological corporate theories presented through glass and steel.
The 60-story building features everything that one would not find at home — biometric security, dining with a Michelin star, English-style pubs, rooftop terraces, and hospitality zones that can comfortably accommodate the guests of a 5-star hotel.
JP Morgan executives even confess it, the building is “a recruitment tool” and thus it has to be “commute-worthy.”
So, Dimon wants employees to come to the office not because they have to, but because it is feels better than being at home. However, not everyone is convinced.
It is reported that more than 2,000 JP Morgan employees have protested, asking for the continuation of a hybrid work model and calling the CEO's position "regressive".
Dimon's answer? Almost complete silence or perhaps even defiance. His stance remains unchanged.
He is of the opinion that mentoring, company culture, and creativity cannot be achieved through online connections but rather they need to be done in person. This is not only a question of the company's policies. It is the conflict of two different cultures — the one which depended on the traditional apprenticeship method and the one which had already embraced digital autonomy that employees were now entitled to.
Dimon’s battle with remote work is indicative of a wider pattern.
Elon Musk has described working from home as "morally wrong," and he accused the "laptop class" of living in a world of illusion while the blue-collar workers have to show up every day. They are both hinting at the same issue: if some workers are forced to be present on-site, then is it fair for others to be working remotely?
The decision will determine the future of work.
Will employees give up the flexibility to be able to work from home and in return get to enjoy luxury — or will they simply leave and thus demonstrate that no matter how luxurious a skyscraper may be, it cannot compete with personal freedom?
