Stellantis France is asking white-collar employees to return to the office more regularly, signaling a shift away from remote work arrangements.
Approximately 8,500 employees will be affected by the new policy, which requires three days of in-office presence per week across the company’s French locations. The policy is already in effect at the Belchamp technical center and will soon expand to the Poissy Green Campus once sufficient space becomes available. Company leadership cites the need to strengthen team cohesion and accelerate decision-making as the rationale for the change.
Return to the Office
The trend toward remote work appears to be waning among corporate decision-makers. After years of flexibility, stemming from the pandemic and a prior shift within the former PSA Group, Stellantis is adjusting its approach. The company initially embraced flexible work arrangements through its “New Social Contract” at the beginning of the decade. However, the Franco-Italian-American automotive group now appears to be curtailing those options. This change impacts 8,500 employees nationwide, and is not limited to France, as a similar move has already begun in the United States. This transition can be a sensitive period for companies, as many employees have grown accustomed to the work-life balance afforded by remote work.
Stellantis management presents the return to the office as an absolute necessity for maintaining collective performance. The company believes that informal interactions between colleagues – conversations over coffee or impromptu meetings – are essential drivers of creativity. Internal discussions emphasize that the ability to craft quick decisions and innovate is fueled by these real-time exchanges, which are challenging to fully replicate through screens or video conferences. This represents a return to a more traditional corporate culture, prioritizing human connection to solidify the group’s foundations in a highly competitive market.
Implementation at Belchamp and Poissy
The shift to increased in-office presence is being implemented in stages, based on the capacity of each location. At the Belchamp technical center, the transition is well underway. Since January 1, employees subject to remote work policies have been required to be on-site three days per week. At the Green Campus in Poissy, the situation is different. While the goal is the same – three days of in-office work – it is currently constrained by space limitations. Teams are awaiting the completion of new office spaces in the coming weeks to accommodate everyone comfortably.
The company aims for a gradual implementation, acknowledging that changing work patterns can raise legitimate questions among employees. Stellantis recognizes that altering the routines of thousands of people requires careful consideration, particularly when family arrangements have been built around the flexibility of remote work. This new policy comes at a particularly busy time for the company. With the announcement of a comprehensive plan to overhaul its electric vehicle strategy, representing a financial commitment of €22 billion, every minute and every idea counts. The company believes that bringing its workforce together is crucial to overcoming the challenges of a rapidly transforming automotive market. May 21 will be a key date, with the presentation of the new industrial plan, which is expected to confirm this focus on team alignment around key projects. From a social perspective, discussions with unions are expected to be robust. Employee representatives will likely ensure that the requirement for in-office presence does not create undue stress or a significant loss of comfort for employees. Management assures that it is listening and committed to a pedagogical approach, emphasizing that effective teamwork is the foundation for future success.
