IBM has mandated all its executives in the United States to come to office or client locations for a minimum of three days each week, according to a company memo.
Those who fail to comply may have to face stringent consequences, including loss of job, it said.
The memo, issued on January 16 and obtained by Bloomberg, states that IBM plans to use badge-in data to monitor if managers are physically present.
Employees impacted by the policy need to live within 50 miles of an IBM office or client location. The memo also sets a deadline for affected individuals to complete relocation arrangements by August. Those unable to comply or secure a remote position are asked to leave the company.
An IBM spokesperson verified the memo's details with Bloomberg, and said "In line with this philosophy, we're mandating that executives and people managers in the United States spend a minimum of three days per week in the office."
IBM's recent policy shift represents a departure from CEO Arvind Krishna's previous stance. He had said the company will not compel employees to return to the office, but at the same time indicated that remote workers might be at a disadvantage in terms of career progression.
Krishna told Bloomberg in May, "In the short term, you probably can be equally productive, but your career does suffer. Moving from there to another role is probably less likely because nobody's observing them in another context." He added, "It will be tougher. Not impossible, but probably a lot tougher."
IBM's decision to enforce in-person work aligns with a trend seen in various tech companies. The move has led to disappointment for many employees, prompting some to resign, while others reluctantly joined to meet the policy requirements.
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