Many companies are starting to reduce permanent remote work options, signaling a shift in workplace strategies. A recent analysis by Konsulenthuset Ballisager indicates that 25% of surveyed companies plan to decrease the amount of remote work available to employees.

This trend, known as Return-to-Office (RTO), is driven by a desire to foster community and collaboration among employees. Nykredit, for example, has already reduced work-from-home days from two to one per week, emphasizing the value of in-person interaction for team dynamics and problem-solving, especially during a merger with Spar Nord. “We believe that there is great value in meeting and being together during the work week, where you spar, learn from each other, and solve tasks together,” says Trine Ahrenkiel, HR and Communications Director at Nykredit.

Joe and the Juice has also eliminated all previous remote work agreements for headquarters staff. Peter Holdt Christensen, PhD and lecturer at Copenhagen Business School, who researches hybrid work, suggests that the primary motivation behind RTO is not individual productivity but rather the cultivation of collegiality and a sense of community.

While some companies are scaling back remote work, Dansk Erhverv reports that most businesses have reached a stable point regarding remote work policies. “We don’t hear anything about it increasing, but we also don’t hear anything about it decreasing,” says Head of HR and Management Pernille Taarup.

The Konsulenthuset Ballisager analysis, based on responses from 1,069 public and private companies, indicates a potential shift toward reduced remote work opportunities in the future. Although the analysis is not representative of all Danish companies, it highlights a trend that some companies will offer less remote work in the future.