PRWeek republished Campaign UK content reporting Omnicom warned staffers that in-office requirements will be “increased over time” from the current three days per week.
The newly expanded White holding company forwarded the announcement via its online information hub to all employees, including former IPG workers who arrived through acquisition.
The in-office policy states non-compliant US employees will not get raises or promotions; plus, violators will be subject to discipline, including termination.
Not sure why this news warranted coverage, as it appears to be standard operating procedure at White holding companies.
Yet it does underscore Omnicom must sort out redundancies to people, practices, and properties.
In short, Omnicom drones don’t know if they’ll have a job, which White advertising agency might employ them, and/or where their cubicle will be located—but if they don’t comply with evolving in-office mandates, they’ll be fired.
The world’s leading marketing and sales company is leading in job insecurity too.
Omnicom Warns Staff In-Office Requirement Will ‘Increase Over Time’
In-office policy was updated in November, when Omnicom acquired Interpublic Group.
By Will Green
Omnicom has told staff that requirements to be in-office will be “increased over time” in an updated policy.
The holding company has made an online information hub available to staff, including Interpublic Group employees, following its acquisition of IPG on 26 November, covering a number of areas including key policies and benefits. The enlarged company will have 105,000 staff by year end, down from 128,000 a year ago, following a wave of job cuts and disposals.
As part of the hub, an In-Office Policy, updated in November 2025, says that current requirements to be in-office three days a week will be increased. Previously both Omnicom and IPG stipulated three days a week in the office.
In the UK, Omnicom is based at Bankside, while IPG has offices at Bishopsgate and Old Bailey.
The policy warns that staff in the US who do not comply with the policy will not receive pay rises or promotion and be subject to discipline, including the possibility of termination of employment.
When Campaign asked Omnicom what the consequences would be for UK staff who did not comply with the policy, the company declined to comment.
“Currently, Omnicom’s policy requires employees to work in the office for a minimum of three days a week, unless additional in-office days are directed by their agency or manager,” the policy states.
“Our objective is to increase this requirement over time, and many of our agencies as well as Omnicom’s corporate group already require five days of in-office attendance.
“Excused absences (eg short-term disability, vacation, sick time) and approved work at a different location (eg client office) will be considered in compliance with this policy. Requests for medical accommodation to work remotely need to be submitted to Human Resources for approval.”
The policy adds: “In the United States, employees who do not comply with this policy will not be eligible for a salary review or promotion, and will be subject to discipline, up to and including termination of employment. Employees terminated pursuant to this policy will not be eligible to receive severance pay.”
An Omnicom spokesperson told Campaign: “Omnicom's hybrid workplace policy, implemented in 2023, requires US employees to work in-office a minimum of three days per week, balancing in-person collaboration with workplace flexibility. Some of our agencies have implemented higher in-office requirements based on their business and client needs. We remain fully committed to this approach without any planned changes at this time.”
In September UK industry think tank Credos released research that found half (47%) of people working in adland were spending at least one day more in the office than they preferred and less than half (45%) were happy with their office/home split.
In January WPP caused a furious backlash when it increased its in-office requirement from three days to four.
More widely, Publicis Groupe and Havas dictate three days a week in the office, while Dentsu mandates two to three days, though all the holdcos typically allow local offices to vary patterns of work.
A year ago Publicis Media in the US laid off dozens of staff for failing to comply with a return-to-office policy.
This article first appeared on Campaign UK.
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