USA 
United Kingdom
JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon has apologized for his now-infamous four-letter outburst against employees questioning the bank’s return-to-office (RTO) mandate.
Speaking at a recent company conference in Miami Beach, Dimon apologized for his language but remained firm on his stance that in-office work is critical for the company’s long-term success.
“I do town halls all around the world and as you know, I mope sometimes. I should never curse, ever,” he said in an interview with CNBC.
“I shouldn’t get angry or stuff like that. But the gentleman asked a long question, and I tried to give a lot of detail which I think he’s entitled to.”
The controversy stemmed from a February town hall in Columbus, Ohio, where an employee, Nicolas Welch, questioned the necessity of full-time office work.
Dimon’s response was an impassioned, eight-minute tirade against hybrid working, in which he dismissed a 950-signature employee petition opposing the policy. “Don’t waste time on it. I don’t care how many people sign that f***ing petition,” he said.
Pushback from employees
Welch, a long-time JPMorgan tech support analyst, challenged the bank’s decision to move from hybrid work to full-time in-office requirements, arguing that his globally dispersed team had functioned seamlessly under remote conditions and suggested the RTO should be left to individual team leaders.
His remarks drew applause from colleagues but were met with a blunt response from Dimon: “There is no chance that I would leave that up to managers. Zero chance.”
Welch later revealed that, immediately after the meeting, he was berated by a vice president and told to clear his desk.
Senior leadership intervened, however, and he was informed hours later that he had not, in fact, been fired. JPMorgan later confirmed that Welch was never officially dismissed, despite the heated exchange.
The dispute highlights growing tensions within corporate America as companies push back against remote work. Dimon maintains that hybrid arrangements have caused inefficiencies and hindered professional development, particularly for younger employees.
“They’re being left behind socially, in ideas, in meeting people,” he said, arguing that remote work had led to a loss of discipline and productivity.
Office-first culture remains non-negotiable
Despite his firm stance, Dimon clarified that he is not against remote work in all cases, noting that 10% of JPMorgan’s workforce operates effectively on a fully remote basis. He asserted, however, that the flexibility granted during the pandemic was never meant to be permanent.
“We always told people that we were going to be a work-from-the-office type of company,” he said. “We allowed three days and two days, but here are the problems, OK? And they are substantial.”
Dimon also criticized what he called the “rudeness” of employees disengaging during virtual meetings, emphasizing that in-person collaboration drives decision-making and innovation.
“If you’re going to meet with me, you’ve got my attention, you’ve got my focus, I don’t bring my goddamn phone, I’m not sending texts to people,” he said.
While the return-to-office debate continues across industries, JPMorgan employees will be expected to comply with the new mandate, set to take effect in March. “You don’t have to work at JPMorgan,” Dimon stated bluntly. “If you don’t want to be here, that’s fine with me.”
