Sony semiconductor unit orders 8,000 staff back to office as Japan's return-to-work push accelerates

Japanese companies are accelerating their push to bring workers back from remote arrangements, with the semiconductor subsidiary of Sony Group announcing it will require roughly 8,000 employees to return to the office, the Nikkei reported Sunday.

Sony Semiconductor Solutions reorganized its structure to strengthen cross-departmental collaboration on new research and development initiatives — including physical AI, where artificial intelligence drives robots and machinery — and as part of that overhaul will in principle require all approximately 8,000 of its employees to work from the office.

The company concluded that remote work slows coordination and decision-making when projects demand collaboration across divisions or call for fresh ideas in new business areas.

To support the transition, Sony Semiconductor Solutions plans to create open communication spaces where employees can talk freely, while also expanding the number of private rooms for focused individual work.

To ease the burden of commuting, the company will subsidize lunch costs and will continue to allow remote work for employees with childcare or caregiving responsibilities.

Cross-departmental collaboration is essential not only internally but also for partnerships with outside companies.

Sony Semiconductor Solutions agreed with TSMC in August on the mass production of next-generation image sensors, and is set to launch a joint factory automation support project with Mitsubishi Electric next month.

The shift is not limited to Sony. Major Japanese corporations broadly have been scaling back the remote-work arrangements introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic and returning to office-based operations.

LY Corporation, the IT firm, required employees to come into the office once a week or once a month depending on their division starting in April last year, then raised that requirement to three days a week in May this year.

Global consulting firm Accenture in effect abolished remote work from June last year, while snack maker Calbee expanded its office space in May last year to secure a desk for every employee and has since been encouraging staff to come in.