EA Mandates Office Return, Halts Remote Hiring

Electronic Arts (EA) has made a significant shift in its work policies by announcing to its employees that it will end its remote working arrangements permanently and mandate a full return to office. In an email viewed by IGN, CEO Andrew Wilson emphasized the value of in-person collaboration, 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 clarified that "hybrid work" would now require a "minimum of three days a week in your local office," and that "offsite local roles" would be phased out over time.

Laura Miele, president of EA Entertainment, provided additional details in a follow-up email, also seen by IGN. She described the company's transition from "a decentralized approach to a globally consistent, enterprise-wide work model." Key points from her email include:

• Changes will not be immediate; employees should continue as directed by their Business Unit until further notice.
• A minimum 12-week notice period will be given before implementing any changes, with the timing varying by location.
• Hybrid work will involve working from the local office at least three days per week, aligning with Wilson's outlined policy.
• A new 30-mile/48-km radius around EA locations will be introduced. Employees within this radius will transition to the Hybrid work model, while those outside will be considered remote unless designated otherwise.
• The Offsite Local work model will be discontinued, with transitions taking 3 to 24 months depending on location.
• Any exceptions to the new work model and future remote hires will require approval from a CEO Direct.

Anonymous sources within EA expressed to IGN their dissatisfaction and confusion over the policy change. Some highlighted the long commutes they would now face, while others raised concerns about childcare and personal medical conditions that had been managed better through remote work. Remote employees outside the 30-mile radius worried about the future of their roles if they were unable or unwilling to relocate closer to an office.

Remote work became increasingly common in the video game industry, especially during and after the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, when stay-at-home mandates forced many AAA companies to adopt remote work as a long-term solution. In recent years, many companies have hired more remote workers, and some employees have moved to more affordable cities, believing remote work to be a permanent arrangement.

However, other major video game companies, such as Rockstar Games, Ubisoft, and Activision Blizzard, have also called their employees back to the office, leading to frustration and sometimes employee turnover. The return to office mandates seem to be a growing trend, with EA joining the list of companies reverting to an in-office model.

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

IGN has reached out to EA for comment on these developments.