EA Mandates Office Return, Halts Remote Hiring

Electronic Arts (EA) has recently announced to its employees a significant shift in its work policy, moving away from remote working to a full return to office. In an email sent to employees, viewed by IGN, CEO Andrew Wilson emphasized the benefits of in-person work, stating that it fosters "a kinetic energy that fuels creativity, innovation, and connection, often resulting in unexpected breakthroughs that lead to incredible experiences for our players." He further outlined that the new "hybrid work" model would require a minimum of three days a week in the local office, and that "offsite local roles" would be phased out gradually.

In a subsequent email from EA Entertainment president, Laura Miele, also seen by IGN, she provided more detailed information on the transition. Miele described the shift as moving from "a decentralized approach to a globally consistent, enterprise-wide work model":

• Employees should continue their current work arrangements as directed by their Business Unit until further notice, regardless of their location.
• Transitions to the new work model will be communicated with at least a 12-week notice period before implementation, with timing varying by location.
• The hybrid work model mandates working from the local office at least three days per week, aligning with CEO Wilson's directives.
• A new 30-mile/48-km radius around EA locations will be introduced.
• Employees living within this radius will transition to the hybrid model, while those outside will be considered remote unless their roles are designated as On Site or Hybrid.
• The Offsite Local work model will be phased out over a period ranging from 3 to 24 months.
• Any exceptions to the work model and future remote hires will require approval from a CEO Direct.

Several anonymous sources within EA, speaking to IGN, expressed that employees were upset and confused by these changes. Some highlighted the long commutes they would now face, while others raised concerns about childcare and personal medical conditions that had previously benefited from remote work. Remote employees outside the 30-mile radius expressed worries about their roles if they could not or would not relocate closer to an office.

Remote work has been a staple in the video game industry, especially gaining prominence during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, which forced many AAA companies to adopt remote work as a long-term strategy. Since then, the industry has seen an increase in remote hires, and many near-office workers have moved to more affordable areas, believing remote work to be a permanent arrangement.

However, recent trends show other major video game companies, such as Rockstar Games, Ubisoft, and Activision Blizzard, also calling employees back to the office, leading to frustration and, in some cases, employee turnover. These companies have faced criticism for these policies, yet the trend towards returning to office continues, with EA being the latest to join the movement.

This announcement comes on the heels of EA's recent layoffs, which affected around 300 employees company-wide, following earlier layoffs at BioWare and the termination of approximately 670 roles last year.

IGN has reached out to EA for further comment on these changes.