Novo Nordisk orders employees to return to office full-time

Novo Nordisk , the Denmark-based drugmaker, has instructed all employees to return to the office full-time as part of the company’s new CEO’s effort to improve collaboration and speed up decision-making, according to Reuters.

The announcement follows news that Novo Nordisk will cut around 9,000 jobs after its sales growth stalled and shares fell sharply, wiping out roughly US$450 billion in market value since mid-2024.

The company stated that the move aims to strengthen relationships, build a sense of belonging, improve collaboration, and support more effective execution across its global operations.

End of Hybrid Work Draws Employee Criticism

Prior to the full return-to-office directive, Novo Nordisk lacked a unified remote-work policy, with arrangements differing by country and department depending on local management practices, according to reports.

The decision to end hybrid work has been met with criticism from HK Privat, a Danish trade union representing administrative staff and laboratory technicians at Novo Nordisk. 

The union stated that remote work and a strong office culture can effectively coexist, and that the company’s move away from hybrid work was disappointing for employees who had benefited from flexible arrangements.

Novo Nordisk noted that employees may still request individual work-from-home agreements with their managers to help balance personal and business needs.

Return to Office Trends

Novo Nordisk’s new policy reflects a broader shift among major employers that are scaling back hybrid work and emphasizing in-office collaboration.

JPMorgan Chase recently required all employees to return to the office five days a week starting in March 2025, ending its long-running hybrid model.

Amazon has also tightened its remote work rules, with executives citing stronger teamwork and faster decision-making as reasons for bringing employees back on-site.

Even the US federal government has rolled back its hybrid policies, calling for federal employees to spend more time in the office to improve collaboration and service delivery.

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