JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has once again started the discussion around remote work, invoking the legacy of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs to argue that younger employees are being left behind in the Zoom era. As reported by Bloomberg, speaking at the Future Investment Initiative this week, Dimon urged the staff at JPMorgan to return to office, warning that virtual work is eroding mentorship, collaboration and career growth. “Zoom is a great tool, so I’m not making fun of Zoom,” Dimon said. “But younger people are being left behind. Their social lives are deteriorating. They don’t get ahead.”
Dimon also stressed on the fact that remote setups lack the spontaneity and informal learning which comes from in-person interactions — a sentiment famously echoed by Apple founder Steve Jobs, who once said, ‘Creativity comes from spontaneous meetings, from random discussions.’
Apprenticeship, not isolation
Dimon also emphasised that professional development often happens via informal apprenticeship and by watching how senior colleagues handle sales calls, mistakes and take decisions. “It doesn’t happen when you’re in your basement and Zoom,” he said. “I think it’s very important to have a social life.”Along with this, Dimon also criticised the lack of follow-through in virtual meetings, likening them to “Hollywood Squares” where momentum is lost and decisions are delayed.
Steve Jobs’ office philosophy
For the uninitiated, Apple founder Steve Jobs designed Apple and Pixar offices in order to encourage chance encounters. He placed cafes and lounges in the centre and spoke about layouts to foster creativity. Dimon’s comments also suggest a similar belief: that physical proximity is essential for innovation and growth, especially for junior staff.
Industry trends: Remote work reversal
With these latest comments, Dimon becomes the latest advocate of pushing against work from home. Tesla CEO Elon Musk previously called it “morally wrong,” arguing it creates unfair divides between white- and blue-collar workers. Alphabet recently scaled back its “Work from Anywhere” policy, and both Microsoft and Amazon have tightened their hybrid work arrangements.