Intel Memo: Layoffs For Some, 4-Day RTO For The Rest
Intel was one of the few Fortune 500 companies to publicly state it would not require an official return to the office. The company shared this approach in 2021 and reiterated it in 2023.
But as of April 24, 2025, Intel has reversed course.
An internal memo told employees to 1) watch for layoffs and 2) return to the office four days per week in September.
Here’s everything you need to know about Intel’s return to office plan: the current policy, sentiment, and timeline.
Intel’s Return To Office: Current Policy
- Return To Office Date: September 1, 2025
- Location Policy: Hybrid
- Office Visit Expectations: 4 Days/Week
- Office Space Footprint: Decreasing
|
|
|
Intel’s RTO Timeline
April 2025: Layoffs & RTO
Intel CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, sent this memo to employees on April 24, 2025:
Here are the key takeaways and quotes:
Layoffs: “I’m a big believer in the philosophy that the best leaders get the most done with the fewest people. We will embrace this mindset across the company, which will include empowering our top talent to make decisions and take greater ownership of key priorities.
There is no way around the fact that these critical changes will reduce the size of our workforce.”
According to Bloomberg, Intel plans to cut 20% of its staff, equal to 21,000+ employees.
Return To Office: “Our existing policy is that our hybrid employees should spend approximately three days per week on site. Adherence to this policy has been uneven at best. I strongly believe that our sites need to be vibrant hubs of collaboration that reflect our culture in action.
With that in mind, we will be updating our policy to require four days per week on site by Sept. 1. I wanted to tell you well in advance so that you have time to make any adjustments to your daily routines.”
2021 & 2023: Intel’s RTO News From Prior Years
November 3, 2021: Existing policy: Hybrid without in-office mandates
“At Intel, it’s meant creating our future as a ‘hybrid-first’ company.”
“The majority of employees will split their time between working remotely and in the office. We’re not mandating a single approach regarding the number of days per week all employees should be on-site or how people should collaborate.
May 10, 2023: Management seeks more in-office time, but maintains its no-mandate policy
“Intel told employees Tuesday it wants a better ‘balance’ between remote work and time in the office, seeking more face-to-face interaction among its staff as the company adapts to the post-pandemic workplace.”
View All Return To Office Plans For The Fortune 500
Every month, we update every Fortune 500 company’s return-to-office policy. You can download the Fortune 500 RTO spreadsheet below.
