JPMorgan CEO dismisses employees’ WFH pleas, insists on RTO: ‘Not making fun of Zoom, but…’

JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon reiterated his stance that office culture drives growth.

Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, has doubled down on his opposition to hybrid work, dismissing employee demands for flexibility and reaffirming that in-person work is non-negotiable.

Speaking at the Future Investment Initiative alongside Wall Street peers, Dimon said junior bankers learn best through observation and collaboration—skills he believes cannot be replicated on Zoom, Economic Times reported. “Mentorship, sales training, and error management are parts of the professional learning process that are missing from remote work,” he noted, underscoring his stance that office culture drives growth.

Petition signed by 2,000 employees

Earlier this year, over 2,000 JPMorgan employees signed a petition urging management to maintain hybrid work options, citing challenges such as commuting costs, childcare pressures, and poor connectivity. The document reached Dimon’s desk—but his response was blunt.

“Don’t waste time on it. I don’t care how many people sign that f*** petition,”** he reportedly told staff during a town hall, according to a recording reviewed by Reuters. He added, “It’s a free country. Don’t be mad at me.”

Dimon later apologised for the harsh language but stood firm on policy, saying employees unwilling to work in-office could seek other jobs. “The office environment is vital for culture and productivity,” he reiterated.

Return-to-office amid layoffs and record profits

The push for full-time office work comes as JPMorgan posted record-breaking annual profits in January, even as the bank laid off around 1,000 employees and signalled further cuts through mid-year. At the end of 2024, JPMorgan’s workforce stood at 317,233.

Dimon has instructed teams to boost efficiency by 10 percent, reducing reports, meetings, and training sessions—a move that aligns with his broader push for operational discipline.

Read more: JPMorgan employee was asked to 'get the f*** out of here' for questioning CEO Jamie Dimon's RTO policy