08-21-2025
Axios published an article pointing out how American top executives are “emphasizing productivity and speed over flexibility and work-life balance.” This assertion was supported by two recent statements by the CEOs of AT&T and Cognition.
AT&T called employees back to work five days a week about seven months ago. In August, the CEO told employees to get on board or get out. He also said, “[i]f a self-directed, virtual, or hybrid work schedule is essential for you to manage your career aspirations and life challenges, you will have a difficult time aligning your priorities with those of the company and the culture we aim to establish.” He envisions a “more externally focused” and “competitive market-based culture.” The company plans to rely primarily on performance-based metrics for job longevity. The Cognition CEO intends to create a similar workplace culture, telling employees to expect six days in the office and 80-hour workweeks. He said, “[w]e don’t believe in work-life balance—building the future of software engineering is a mission we all care so deeply about that we couldn’t possibly separate the two.”
Glassdoor’s chief economist told Axios that CEOs are likely worried about the economy and the impact of AI. It is unclear how the switch in approaches will work out for employers over time. A recent Pew Research poll revealed that nearly half of workers say they are unlikely to stay at their jobs if they must return to the office full-time. Seventy-two percent stated they would choose a hybrid arrangement. Experts encourage employers to be transparent about the culture that they want to build during the hiring process. Many companies are undergoing major transformations right now, for reasons based on business operations, trade, or AI.