• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Trump, who has repeatedly called climate change fake, is now threatening Brazil with tariffs over the deforestation of the Amazon

2

Current price of oil as of June 8, 2026

3

Gen Zers are arriving at college unable to even read a sentence—professors warn it could lead to a generation of anxious and lonely graduates

1

Trump, who has repeatedly called climate change fake, is now threatening Brazil with tariffs over the deforestation of the Amazon

2

Current price of oil as of June 8, 2026

3

Gen Zers are arriving at college unable to even read a sentence—professors warn it could lead to a generation of anxious and lonely graduates
Successreturn to office

Fall 2023 is shaping up as remote work’s biggest test yet with 1 million workers facing orders to go back to the cubicle

By
Jane Thier
Jane Thier
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Jane Thier
Jane Thier
Down Arrow Button Icon
July 19, 2023, 3:44 PM ET
people in office meeting
The remote work war is far from over.Hinterhaus Productions - Getty Images

2023 may be the year offices will return to near-2019 occupancy levels. For real this time. For workers, that means the end of the return-to-work war remains out of reach.

Recommended Video

So indicates the latest report from real estate consulting firm JLL. To date, it found, bosses have enacted new attendance policies this year for 1.5 million office workers. Another million are expected to face more requirements in the second half of 2023.

It’s the latest in the three-year stretch of the return to office debate. 2022 was defined by a will-they-won’t-they power struggle (many employees walked out, filed petitions, and rage quit) that seemed to give way to a stalemate in 2023 as hybrid arrangements became a sort of truce between the pro-remote crowd and their onsite bosses. But JLL’s data signals that the office return wars continue ahead with little hope of near-term resolution.

Workers haven’t gone down without a fight. 

U.S. office occupancy has hovered around 40% to 60% of pre-pandemic norms despite the slew of last year’s mandates, JLL found. Indeed, the latest data provided to Fortune from Kastle, a security company tracking key card swipes nationwide, shows that offices in the top 10 U.S. metro areas were 49.1% full in the week ending July 12. Aside from one week at 50.3% in early June, offices (as tracked by Kastle) have never been half-full. 

Clearly though, bosses are still trying, and real estate firms like JLL can see the domino effect; shortly after Meta, Alphabet, and Lyft unveiled their return mandates, the 10 largest technology tenants in the U.S. all announced some form of concrete hybrid attendance policy, JLL shared with Fortune. 

But JLL’s report says re-entry rates are likely to set a post-pandemic record in Q4 of this year—perhaps more than 80% for midweek days. It’s good news for the in-person work proponents, per the report, which are mainly bosses. Paying for office space in an empty downtown building is eye-wateringly expensive, and bosses are bolstered by the idea that working from home is less productive, innovative, and connected. 

“Pre-pandemic occupancy levels will arrive about a year from now,,” John Gates, CEO of JLL’s Americas Markets, told Yahoo Finance. For some firms, particularly those helmed by staunchly pro-office leaders like Jamie Dimon or Elon Musk, if it happens, it may be much sooner. If JLL’s 2023 numbers align, 2.5 million workers will occupy at least a hundred million square feet, at least a couple of days a week, he told Yahoo. 

Recovery won’t just be an achievement for company morale; it will be crucial for companies’ real estate portfolios. In a 2022 paper, New York University and Columbia University researchers predicted a 44% drop in New York City office values by 2029. This “real estate apocalypse,” brought on by the remote work revolution would result in a nationwide $500 billion “value destruction.” 

But bosses shouldn’t get ahead of themselves. That 80% occupancy figure might be overambitious if you ask Mark Ein, Kastle Systems chairman. He told Fortune’s Trey Williams in December 2022 that buildings will unlikely ever crest 60% capacity. “It goes in fits and starts,” Ein said. “[Office occupancy] has been on a steady rise since the beginning of [2022]. But there will be a natural ceiling to it. We’re never really going to get to 100%.”

For the past couple of years, there has been a push to return to office after Labor Day that never seems to pan out to full fruition. Plus, we’ve likely already reached max capacity, some experts say. “I don’t expect everyone to be in [the office] most of the time, and the banner moment to return has probably already passed,” Jose Maria Barrero, one of the economics professors behind WFH Research, told Fortune in February. “I would’ve thought last fall or last spring, some time like that.”

And so, after three-and-a-half years of insistence that it’s nearly over, the RTO war wages on. 

The Fortune 500 Innovation Forum will convene Fortune 500 executives, U.S. policy officials, top founders, and thought leaders to help define what’s next for the American economy, Nov. 16-17 in Detroit. Apply here.
About the Author
By Jane Thier
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Success

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Success

penn
North Americatransit
‘I’m not focused on names at all’: Rumors of Trump Station replacing Penn Station in New York batted aside
By Philip Marcelo and The Associated PressJune 9, 2026
3 hours ago
Alex Karp
SuccessView from the C-Suite
Palantir CEO Alex Karp says executives who brag about their AI cuts might as well ‘sign up for the Bernie Sanders manifesto’
By Preston ForeJune 9, 2026
3 hours ago
Stephen Schwarzman’s grandfather inspired the Blackstone billionaire’s philanthropy: It was ‘his privilege to help others in need’
Successphilanthropy
Stephen Schwarzman’s grandfather inspired the Blackstone billionaire’s philanthropy: It was ‘his privilege to help others in need’
By Sydney LakeJune 9, 2026
3 hours ago
wood
North AmericaObituary
One of America’s greatest historians just died at 92 after being hit by a car in a supermarket parking lot
By Hillel Italie and The Associated PressJune 9, 2026
3 hours ago
Teenage boy on laptop
SuccessJobs
Around 22 million teenagers are making their pocket money on video games, online reselling, and in-game platforms like Roblox
By Emma BurleighJune 9, 2026
4 hours ago
noah
SuccessMedia
This CEO says he’s helping journalists double their salaries by going to work for brands. But is it journalism—and does it matter?
By Nick LichtenbergJune 9, 2026
8 hours ago

Most Popular

Trump, who has repeatedly called climate change fake, is now threatening Brazil with tariffs over the deforestation of the Amazon
Environment
Trump, who has repeatedly called climate change fake, is now threatening Brazil with tariffs over the deforestation of the Amazon
By Sasha RogelbergJune 8, 2026
22 hours ago
Current price of oil as of June 8, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of June 8, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 8, 2026
1 day ago
Gen Zers are arriving at college unable to even read a sentence—professors warn it could lead to a generation of anxious and lonely graduates
Success
Gen Zers are arriving at college unable to even read a sentence—professors warn it could lead to a generation of anxious and lonely graduates
By Preston ForeJune 7, 2026
2 days ago
'We didn’t see this coming': Wall Street eats its forecasts as stocks sell off globally on fear of AI bubble ahead of SpaceX IPO
Economy
'We didn’t see this coming': Wall Street eats its forecasts as stocks sell off globally on fear of AI bubble ahead of SpaceX IPO
By Jim EdwardsJune 8, 2026
1 day ago
Pentagon accuses Alibaba, Baidu and BYD, three of China's biggest companies, of supporting the Chinese military
Asia
Pentagon accuses Alibaba, Baidu and BYD, three of China's biggest companies, of supporting the Chinese military
By Kate O'Keeffe and BloombergJune 8, 2026
20 hours ago
'The golden years are not golden': Boomers are hoarding most of America's wealth and power because they're terrified of outliving their money
Economy
'The golden years are not golden': Boomers are hoarding most of America's wealth and power because they're terrified of outliving their money
By Nick LichtenbergJune 7, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.