Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Microsoft AI, is tightening the return-to-office (RTO) policy. He wants his teams back in the office. Furthermore, he is demanding that all employees use open, unassigned desks. This rule applies to everyone in his organization.
Suleyman’s goal is to increase collision and collaboration. He believes this setup will force people to interact more often. The plan aims to foster better teamwork and spur innovation. The change will eliminate private offices and assigned desks.
This new mandate is causing friction. Many tech workers dislike open-plan seating. They say it hurts focus and concentration. Workers often informally claim open desks. They want the comfort of a predictable setup. The shift from private spaces to hot-desking is a major change. It shows that top tech executives are prioritizing in-person interaction, even with a risk of burnout
