New Work Valley: back to the office
When I arrived in San Francisco in 2022, almost nobody worked on-site. Three years later mandatory office days are back – and one of the loudest voices for the old model has changed his mind.
When I started as a Silicon Valley correspondent in early 2022, almost all tech companies were running fully remote. Working from home was treated as the future of work.
🏢 Then came the reversal – New Work Valley suddenly meant back to the office. Voices like Sam Edmund are pushing for mandatory presence, and many companies are following.
🇩🇪 Germany goes for balance – more and more firms are introducing regular office days. Fully remote work may be convenient, but companies are difficult to steer over the long run from a distance.
🔄 The Vodafone example – first “Full Flex” or “Work from Anywhere”, now mandatory office days again. German CEO Marcel de Groot needs to restructure the company – and that only works with a team that exchanges in person and pulls together.
🤝 The future is hybrid – face-to-face meetings build cohesion, foster innovation and create clear direction. A smart middle path between home office and office routine is the best solution.
I wrote the full piece together with Anna Westkämper for Handelsblatt.