AT&T’s Chief Technology Officer, Jeremy Legg, recently announced to technology employees in the United States that the company will not guarantee individual seating as it implements a new five-day office attendance policy. This requirement comes as the company transitions from a hybrid work model to full-time office presence.
The policy, which will affect about 10,000 employees in AT&T Technology Services (ATS), is set to begin rolling out on January 6, 2025. According to reports, ongoing workspace shortages have already forced employees to work in less conventional spaces, like hallways and cafeterias, to meet attendance demands.
The seating crunch is particularly problematic at some offices, with reports indicating that one location has only 150 desks for over 1,200 assigned workers. To tackle these issues, AT&T is currently constructing additional office space in Atlanta and Dallas.
Implementation of the new policy will occur in stages. Employees at senior leadership levels (level 4 and above) must return to the office by January 6, 2025, followed by level 3 managers on February 3, and all remaining employees by March 3. However, those in Atlanta and Alpharetta may experience delays until between April and June due to ongoing construction.
Despite the space challenges, Legg stressed the company’s belief that in-person collaboration is the most effective way for ATS employees to work together. The memo also noted that some flexibility would be allowed for travel, vacations, and other special circumstances, as management aims to accommodate occasional remote work.
To facilitate this transition, AT&T has set up a dedicated SharePoint site for updates and assignment information. However, how the company plans to effectively manage the logistics of numerous employees with limited seating still remains a question. AT&T has indicated that individual teams can tailor their approaches based on specific business needs.
