- Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser is maintaining a hybrid work policy despite a broader industry trend toward stricter return-to-office (RTO) mandates, reportedly positioning the bank’s flexibility as a competitive recruitment advantage.
Citigroup chief executive Jane Fraser is planning to keep hybrid work—despite a wider trend across the sector toward a return-to-office.
Fraser told top executives during a quarterly call with the bank’s managing directors that she plans to continue to let most employees work remotely up to two days a week, the Financial Times reported. The majority of Citigroup’s employees work on a hybrid schedule with at least three days per week in the office and up to two days remotely.
On the call, Fraser reportedly said the flexible approach to in-person working could serve as a competitive advantage and be a recruitment tool to scoop up employees looking to leave competitors over more stringent RTO mandates. The comments follow earlier promises by the chief exec to stick to a hybrid work arrangement even after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Citigroup has tried to encourage workers to spend at least some of their time in the office. In its London Canary Wharf offices, the bank is investing in a range of amenities to entice its staff back in person.
Citi declined to comment on the record to Fortune.
A push toward RTO
Citi’s decision to stick with hybrid work bucks the trend of corporations reverting to fully in-person work.
Last month, JPMorgan Chase told employees that the bank would require workers to be back in person five days per week. JPMorgan executives noted at the time that the move could be unpopular with some employees. In 2024, Goldman Sachs has also had an official corporate policy of full-time office work.
Tech companies have also been ramping up their mandated office days.
In September, Amazon announced it would require all workers in the office full-time at the start of 2025. Dell has also said that all workers who live close to the office must return full-time.
Earlier this month, global ad giant WPP also issued a sweeping RTO mandate for its 114,000 staff, requiring them to return to the office four days per week starting in April. Previously, some WPP employees were working as little as one day a week in the office.
RTO mandates have also been popular with the Trump administration and Trump allies such as Elon Musk.
The Trump administration is requiring all U.S. federal employees to return to their desks five days a week, offering severance packages to those who refuse to obey the new mandate.
On average, employees tend to prefer a hybrid approach to office work. However, some studies have shown that returning to the office can help foster company culture and be beneficial for younger workers.
Strict RTO mandates have made some employees at least consider jumping ship. Several Amazon workers previously told Fortune that the strict return-to-office mandate meant they were looking for alternative jobs.
