Instagram Kills Hybrid Work, Orders US Staff Back to Office Full-Time

Instagram is mandating a full five-day-a-week return to the office for its US-based employees starting February 2, 2026, a major escalation in the tech industry's push to end remote work. The policy was detailed in an internal memo from Instagram head Adam Mosseri, first obtained by Business Insider.

• The five-day mandate: The new rule applies to most US staff with assigned desks. In the memo, Mosseri argued the move will make the company "more nimble and creative," stating his belief that "we are more creative and collaborative when we are together in-person."

• War on meetings: The RTO mandate is paired with a cultural overhaul aimed at efficiency. Mosseri is "declaring war" on endless meetings by re-evaluating all recurring ones every six months and demanding more product demos and fewer slide decks to focus employee time on building.

• Just us, for now: A spokesperson confirmed to CNBC that the mandate is confined to Instagram and does not affect Facebook or WhatsApp for now. The move aligns Instagram with other tech giants like Amazon and Dell, marking a sharp pivot from parent company Meta's earlier embrace of remote work.

While employees retain some flexibility for occasional remote work, the message is clear: the future of Instagram's culture is in the office, a move that sharpens the focus of CEO Mark Zuckerberg's ongoing "year of efficiency."