WPP, the world’s largest advertising group by headcount, has announced a new global policy requiring employees to work in the office at least four days a week, starting April.
The policy, confirmed by WPP CEO Mark Read in a staff email on January 7, will apply across all WPP operations worldwide. Employees will also need to work in the office on at least two Fridays per month, with flexibility to choose the remaining remote working days.
In his memo, Read emphasized the importance of in-person collaboration:
“Spending more time together is important to all of us, and we are making a change to help that happen. From April, the expectation across WPP will be that most of us spend an average of four days a week in the office,” he said.
Read reassured staff that the shift doesn’t signal a return to pre-pandemic norms.
“During the pandemic, we learned the value of flexibility in balancing work and personal commitments. We’ll maintain that spirit of trust and pragmatism while accommodating individual circumstances, including caring responsibilities, health issues, and other needs,” he explained. Certain roles that have historically operated remotely will remain unaffected.
The decision is backed by internal data indicating that higher office attendance correlates with stronger employee engagement, improved client satisfaction, and better financial performance. “More of our clients are moving in this direction and expect the same from the teams supporting them,” Read noted.
The move makes WPP the first major advertising holding company to implement a four-day office attendance policy. In comparison, rivals Publicis and Omnicom currently maintain more flexible three-day office mandates, as reported by Campaign UK.
WPP, which owns agencies such as Ogilvy and GroupM, employs over 111,000 people across its global network. The new policy marks a significant shift in the company’s post-pandemic working arrangements.
Read Also: Luanne D’Souza joins Current Global MENAT as Account Director to Lead Key Accounts
Disclaimer: Information mentioned here has not been verified or endorsed by Agency Reporter and is in accordance with the press release shared by the company or their appointed representatives.