Intel mandates four-day office workweek, cuts management layers

Intel, under new CEO Lip-Bu Tan, will require employees to return to the office four days a week starting September 1, shifting from its previous three-day hybrid policy due to inconsistent adherence and a push for greater in-person collaboration. Tan believes this move will foster more engaging discussions, faster decision-making, and stronger team connections, aiming to revitalize Intel’s culture amid competitive and economic pressures. The company is also seeking to streamline operations, cut operating expenses by $500 million this year and $1 billion next year, and reduce organizational complexity to empower engineers and speed up innovation. While Intel’s Chandler campus is undergoing a significant expansion, reports suggest the company may lay off up to 20% of its workforce. This return-to-office mandate aligns Intel with other tech giants like Amazon and Salesforce, which have also implemented stricter in-office requirements, though evidence is mixed on whether such policies improve productivity and some research indicates they may hurt employee satisfaction.