Instagram Orders US Employees Back to Office Full-Time by February

UPDATE: Instagram has just announced a major shift in its workplace policy, mandating all US employees to return to the office full-time starting February 2, 2026. This move, revealed in an internal memo from Instagram chief Adam Mosseri, aims to enhance innovation and collaboration among team members.

The directive requires Instagram’s workforce to be on-site five days a week, a significant change that underscores a growing trend among tech companies to prioritize in-person interactions. Mosseri emphasized the need to reduce internal meetings, urging employees to concentrate on building product prototypes and demonstrating them directly, rather than engaging in lengthy presentations. This pivot is expected to foster creativity and accelerate product development.

This policy is specific to Instagram and does not extend to its parent company Meta, which maintains a broader return-to-desk policy initiated in September 2023. Under this mandate, employees from Facebook, WhatsApp, and other Meta divisions are required to be in the office at least three days a week.

The company’s push for more in-person work reflects a broader industry trend. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous tech giants have reverted to full-time office environments to promote collaboration and dismantle internal silos. For instance, Amazon implemented a five-day office week back in January 2025, and other major corporations like AT&T, Boeing, and Dell Technologies have enacted similar policies.

The urgency of this announcement resonates with employees adjusting to potential lifestyle changes. As tech companies navigate the post-pandemic work landscape, the emphasis on in-person collaboration is becoming increasingly clear. What happens next as teams adapt to these new expectations remains to be seen.

Stay tuned for further updates as this policy rolls out and affects employees across the organization.