Novo Nordisk, the maker of the popular weight-loss drug Wegovy, has ended its remote work policy. The company ordered all staff to return to the office full-time. This decision follows the Novo Nordisk company’s announcement to layoff 9,000 employees, about 8% of its global workforce.
Novo Nordisk took this step to regain its momentum. The company has faced stalled sales and fierce competition from rival Eli Lilly. Its new CEO wants to accelerate decision-making and improve collaboration. The company has lost around $450 billion in market value since mid-2024. The layoffs and the change in work policy aim to reduce costs and increase efficiency.
Novo Nordisk believes a full-time office presence will help build a “stronger sense of belonging” and strengthen relationships among employees. The company stated this change will speed up its processes.
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However, the decision has drawn criticism. Denmark’s HK Privat union, which represents some of Novo Nordisk’s employees, said management should have allowed a mix of remote and office work. The union’s chair, Kim Jung Olsen, stated that working from home and having a good office culture are not mutually exclusive.
Despite the new mandate, Novo Nordisk will allow employees to make individual arrangements with their managers for some flexibility. This change mirrors a broader trend among global companies. Firms like JPMorgan Chase and Amazon have also reduced their remote work options.
