WPP’s Bold 4-Day Office Mandate for 114,000 Global Staff Amid Publicis Rivalry

By The Malketeer

The Ad Giant’s Bold Move to Regain its Edge Signals Seismic Shift in Agency Culture

WPP, the UK-based advertising titan, is shaking things up with a new workplace policy that mandates a four-day office week for its global workforce of 114,000 employees starting April 2025.

This makes WPP the first major advertising holding company to require such extensive in-office attendance, outpacing competitors like Publicis and Omnicom, which operate on more lenient three-day models.

The decision comes as WPP faces mounting challenges, including stagnating growth and the looming loss of its title as the world’s largest advertising firm to French rival Publicis.

Flexibility Meets Mandate: A New Era of Hybrid Work

Under the new policy, WPP employees must clock in at the office four days a week, with two Fridays per month designated as mandatory in-office days.

The remaining in-office days will be determined by individual teams, allowing some flexibility while aligning with WPP’s goal to foster better collaboration and client engagement.

This strategic pivot marks a significant shift in the ad industry, where hybrid work has become the norm post-pandemic.

WPP’s leadership believes that increased face-to-face interaction will not only boost employee engagement but also improve client satisfaction—a claim backed by internal surveys linking higher office attendance to better performance metrics.

Fighting Big Tech and In-Housing Headwinds

WPP’s bold move comes at a critical juncture.

The company has been grappling with declining growth after its pandemic-era boom, as clients increasingly take their advertising needs in-house or allocate budgets to digital platforms like Google and Amazon.

Industry reports reveal that over half of global ad spend now flows to Big Tech—a seismic shift that’s squeezing traditional agencies like WPP.

“Adapting to industry changes while fostering stronger internal and external connections is key to our next chapter,” a WPP spokesperson commented.

Is More Office Time the Answer?

Critics, however, are questioning whether the policy will spark the intended transformation or alienate employees accustomed to greater remote work freedom.

“Mandating office attendance may seem counterintuitive in an era that champions flexibility,” said an industry analyst, “but WPP is banking on collaboration to differentiate itself in an increasingly digital-first world.”

An Industry-Wide Turning Point?

As WPP positions itself for a comeback, its rivals—and the industry at large—will be watching closely.

Could this policy become the new standard for agencies under pressure, or will it serve as a cautionary tale?

One thing is certain: April 2025 will mark a pivotal moment for the advertising behemoth.

Whether the four-day mandate proves to be a stroke of genius or a misstep remains to be seen, but for now, WPP’s message is clear—adversity demands bold action.