Publicis makes in-office attendance mandatory on Mondays and eliminates consecutive remote work days

All Publicis employees globally will be required to return to the office three days a week, including mandatory presence on Mondays and no consecutive remote working days beginning on January 1, according to an internal memo obtained by Campaign US. 

In a video shared with staff on Tuesday, sent to Campaign US, Publicis Groupe chairman and CEO Arthur Sadoun detailed the requirements of the new policy while prefacing that the agency network has made efforts to maintain the “best of both in-person and remote working” since the start of the pandemic. 

“But, almost three years later, we have to admit that a disproportionate part of remote working is actually leading to siloed work, less collaboration, sometimes stunted creativity, fewer innovation and decreasing productivity,” he said in the video. 

The new policy will require all employees globally to be in the office — either Publicis’ or their clients’ — for a minimum of three days a week. No one will be permitted to work remotely for more than one consecutive day. Everyone will also need to be in-person on Mondays to “make sure [everyone] kick starts the week together,” Sadoun said in the video. 

Medical exceptions and remote contracts already established will be honoured. 

In other words, employees will be required to come in on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays or Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. 

“I sincerely believe that we are at our best when we are together. We can support, inspire and care for each other. And while it's not impossible to do all of these things from our screens, I think we should admit that it is actually harder,” he continued. “It is now time for all of us to find the right balance between the benefits of working from home that we want to keep and being in the office, as together we are definitely stronger.”

The updates come as Campaign US’ return to office survey found that advertising employees have bristled at new mandates, preferring hybrid options that offer more flexibility. 

Publicis Groupe did not respond to requests for comment in time for publication.

(This article first appeared on CampaignLive.com)