JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon Rejects Employee Petition, Defends Full Office Return
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has firmly rejected a petition signed by approximately 2,000 employees calling for hybrid work options, insisting that full-time office attendance is crucial for professional development and mentorship.
Key Takeaways
- Jamie Dimon dismissed a 2,000-signature employee petition for hybrid work
- He argues remote work harms mentorship, especially for younger bankers
- Dimon previously used strong language, telling remote work advocates to “find a new job”
- The bank ended remote work for most of its 300,000+ employees in January
Dimon’s Stance on Remote Work and Mentorship
Speaking at a conference in Riyadh, Dimon emphasized that in-person collaboration is essential for career growth. “I’m not making fun of Zoom, but younger people are being left behind,” he stated. “If you look back at your careers, you learned a little bit from the apprentice system. You were with other people who took you on a sales call or told you how to handle a mistake. That doesn’t happen when you’re in a basement on Zoom.”
Employee Pushback and Internal Frustration
The CEO’s comments follow a petition signed by about 2,000 JPMorgan employees demanding the reinstatement of hybrid working options. The petition was launched after the company’s January announcement ending remote work for most of its workforce. Internal message boards have been flooded with complaints, particularly from back-office staff frustrated by the mandate.
Dimon’s Previous Strong Reaction
In February, during a town hall meeting, Dimon had already made his position clear with forceful language. When asked about the return-to-office policy, he responded: “Don’t waste time on it. I don’t care how many people sign that fucking petition,” drawing some laughter from attendees.
He emphasized that managers would not have discretion over in-office requirements. “There is no chance that I will leave it up to managers,” Dimon declared. “Zero chance. The abuse that took place is extraordinary.”
Expressing his frustration with remote work adoption, he added: “I’ve had it with this stuff. I’ve been working seven days a goddamn week since COVID, and I come in — where is everybody else?”
Apology But No Policy Change
While Dimon later apologized for his profanity, saying he should “never curse, ever,” he maintained that remote work undermines both efficiency and creativity. The veteran CEO, who has led JPMorgan for 19 years and received $39 million in total compensation for 2024, shows no signs of softening his stance on office attendance requirements.
