Novo Nordisk scraps WFH, orders full office return in bid to regain its edge

Novo Nordisk is calling everyone back to their desks. The Wegovy maker told staff on Thursday that it’s ending work-from-home arrangements and moving to a full return to office as its new CEO tries to speed up decisions and sharpen execution amid a ferocious obesity-drug race.

The about-face lands a day after Novo said it will cut 9,000 jobs following stalled sales growth and a stock slide that’s wiped roughly $450 billion off its market value since mid-last year. The company is battling US rival Eli Lilly and a wave of compounded copycat weight-loss drugs that have crowded the market.

“This is designed to foster a stronger sense of belonging, strengthen relationships, enhance collaboration and accelerate decision-making processes,” Novo said in a statement.

Novo declined to spell out what its old policy was. Danish outlet Ritzau reported there were no uniform WFH rules before Thursday—practices varied by country and department. The shift surprised the HK Privat trade union, which represents Novo administrative staff and lab techs.

“Working from home and a vibrant office culture are not necessarily mutually exclusive,” said chair Kim Jung Olsen, calling it “unfortunate” for employees who’d benefited from occasional remote work.

The move puts Novo in step with a broader corporate snap-back to offices. JPMorgan Chase told employees to be in five days a week starting in March; Amazon and others tightened attendance last year; and President Donald Trump has ordered federal workers back.

There will be some wriggle room: Novo said staff can still make individual arrangements with managers, leaving limited flexibility “to ensure that both personal and business needs are met.”

With layoffs underway and competition intensifying, Novo’s betting that in-person teams will move faster. Whether that payoff outweighs employee pushback on flexibility is the next test.

With input from CNBC and Reuters.