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JPMorgan employees at the bank's largest US campus have expressed concerns over a lack of parking and other key amenities as they prepare to return to the office full-time.
Staff at the Polaris campus in Columbus, Ohio, which houses approximately 12,000 employees, have been instructed to resume five-day, in-office working starting April 21, following a delay to allow the site to prepare for the influx.
The move aligns with CEO Jamie Dimon's expletive-laden return-to-office (RTO) mandate, which has seen hybrid workers across the bank called back to their desks this year. Concerns have been raised, however, that the Polaris campus lacks sufficient capacity to accommodate the returning workforce.
Internal documents indicate Polaris has 13,601 employees but seating for only 11,930. A JPMorgan spokesperson downplayed concerns, however, noting that the total figure includes staff who are not present daily, such as engineers, security, and service teams.
Employee concerns over space and amenities
Despite reassurances, employees have reported anxieties about limited desk availability, parking challenges, and inadequate conference room space. Some workers have expressed frustration in employee group chats, referencing concerns that the bank may continue to enforce its RTO policy despite logistical issues.
The bank addressed some concerns in a memo sent to Polaris employees this week, promising improved amenities to support the return.
Measures include an off-site parking lot with a complimentary shuttle service to manage demand. Workers have criticised it as being out of step with reality.
“The last thing that I want to do after a full day of work is stand with a group of my coworkers, hope there is enough room on the next bus, ride for 10 minutes to my car parked at the mall, and then drive home," said one product manager.
A cynic might even suggest that forcing people to get into the office earlier to secure an on-site parking space, might not be seen as a negative by management.
Along with upgraded dining options and additional guest restaurant choices, a new on-campus dining venue is also scheduled to open later this year.
While some employees welcomed improved food options, others voiced concern that limited seating and long lunch queues may still hinder productivity.
“The complaint that we have really is that everybody's lunch is 12 to 1,” one tech worker said. "Trying to go to lunch at that time means you're in a line forever."
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Productivity and workspace issues
In addition to seating shortages, some employees expressed concerns about the open-plan layout, which features no partitioned walls and requires staff from various departments to work side by side.
“Everyone is on their own Zoom calls, which can be distracting if you are trying to put your head down and get work done," a product manager said.
Employees without a designated desk have been advised to log in using personal devices from shared spaces like the atrium or conference center, prompting further concerns about workspace preparedness. "They are so not prepared for this," a software engineer commented.
The Polaris campus, a 2-million-square-foot site renovated in 2023, includes advanced energy-efficient systems and was the venue for a leaked February town hall where Dimon discussed the bank’s RTO policy.
With employee frustration mounting, the campus now faces the challenge of solving workplace logistics issues alongside an unpopular return-to-office strategy that could result in retention issues further down the line.
