JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon stands firm on office return policy: ‘Work from home doesn’t always work’

JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon, who recently sparked controversy for his fiery remarks on remote work, stood firm on the bank’s five-days-in-office policy and said working from home did not always work. 

In a recent interview with CNBC, Dimon talked about an earlier town hall with employees of JP Morgan Chase, during which he was heard cursing and going on a long rant when a worker floated a petition against the company’s in-office mandate.

He said he respected people “that don’t want to go to the office all five days a week”, adding that it was a citizen’s right.

“I completely respect people that don’t want to go to the office all five days a week. That’s your right. It’s my right. It’s a citizen’s right. But they should respect that the company is going to decide what’s good for the client, the company, etcetera – not the individual,” he was quoted as saying by CNBC at the company’s global leveraged finance conference in Miami.

However, he stood firm on his return to office stance and said that he is against work from home where it does not work.

“I’ll understand that. And I also respect that other companies are going to try a different way to grow,” he said.

“I’m not against work from home. I’m against where it doesn't work”, Dimon added.

He said, “They can get a job—I’m not being mean—they can get a job elsewhere. I totally understand that it may make total sense for them to do that.” 

Should never curse, says JP Morgan CEO

The JP Morgan Chase CEO said he regretted his foul-mouthed rant while also clarifying that he stood firm on his opinion about returning to work from office.

“I do town halls all around the world, and as you know, I mope sometimes. I should never curse, ever,” he said.

He agreed that he should not get angry but justified that he was trying to give a detailed answer to the employee who asked about reconsidering the return to office policy.

“I shouldn't get angry or stuff like that. But the gentleman asked a long question, and I answered the question. I tried to give a lot of detail, which I think he’s entitled to because I’ve never, ever fired anyone because they asked a question like that,” CNBC quoted him as saying.

What happened at the JP Morgan town hall?

At an earlier company event, leaked audio revealed Dimon using several expletives towards an employee who asked him to reconsider the policy of returning to the office five times a week. The employee cited personal issues and the overall needlessness of working from the office for his team. He asked Dimon to leave the decision of remote work to managers, which angered the CEO.

“Don’t waste time on it. I don’t care how many people sign that f****** petition,” he said.

The video of the JP Morgan town hall, which leaked on social media, caused global outrage.