Instagram is ending its pandemic-era flexibility and asking US employees to return to the office five days a week starting February 2, according to a companywide memo first reported by Business Insider and confirmed by a spokesperson. But, staff in New York City will not be required to comply immediately due to space constraints, and remote employees remain exempt.
Chief Adam Mosseri justified the move by citing improved collaboration and creativity in physical workspaces. But alongside the mandate, Mosseri outlined sweeping changes aimed at breaking away from “business as usual” and reducing meeting fatigue.
"To create a winning culture, we need to shake up our routines," Mosseri wrote, urging employees to replace unnecessary meetings and endless slide decks with clear objectives and more prototypes. He added that one-on-one meetings should default to a biweekly schedule and encouraged staff to decline meetings that fall within designated “focus blocks.”
‘Cancel all recurring meetings every six months’
Mosseri announced that every six months, Instagram will cancel all recurring meetings and only reinstate those deemed absolutely necessary.
"If a deck is necessary, it should be as tight as possible," he wrote, emphasising that product review sessions should have clear goals and avoid time-consuming preparations. "I want most of your time focused on building great products, not preparing for meetings," Mosseri added.
Instead of slide presentations, employees are being asked to showcase prototypes during product overviews. According to Mosseri, prototypes provide better proof of concept and help teams understand “social dynamics” more effectively than traditional decks.
Industry trend of RTO
The directive marks one of the most aggressive return-to-office policies in Big Tech. While Meta, Instagram’s parent company, mandated three in-office days in 2023, few major firms have called for a full five-day return. Mosseri’s memo signals a broader push to restore in-person collaboration while modernizing workplace norms.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
