Simon & Schuster, which had long followed the return-to-office policy of its soon to be former owner Paramount Global, has issued new guidelines as it expects to move under KKR ownership sometime this year.

In a memo to employees, CEO Jonathan Karp said that S&S will take a “departmental approach to office work.” Under that approach, managers will set the policy in each of S&S’s different locations and for each group in those offices. In its New York City offices, managers will have the flexibility to set the return-to-work program.

In his memo, Karp said that some groups will continue to work in the office every day, some may work 2-3 days a week, and others will continue to work fully remotely.

Those overall rules will apply to the publisher’s New York workforce with some additional guidelines:

  • If, with their manager’s approval, an employee is not coming to the office at least twice a week by December 1, they will give up their usual office space and share new office space, which will be created for employees to share
  • If an employee was hired from a remote location, or no longer lives in the New York metropolitan area, and is unable to commute to Rockefeller Center—and if their manager agrees they can continue to work effectively from wherever they are—S&S will not expect them to be in the office, except when their manager notifies them in advance that their presence is required

Karp reiterated that managers will have latitude to phase in this policy based on the individual needs of employees and of their respective groups, noting: “We hope you will be able to make whatever adjustments are needed by December 1.”

Karp’s memo closed by noting:

“The benefits of collaborating in person have been widely documented. Teamwork is better when the team is together. Ideas can travel more naturally when we are face to face, whether we are brainstorming or mentoring or tackling a new challenge. That is why most of our group leaders believe that Simon & Schuster is a stronger company when we are together with our colleagues at least two or three times a week.

Each group will determine its optimal schedule. Because no two groups are the same, even when performing similar functions, it is possible that standards and schedules will vary throughout Rock Center. We believe it is wisest to embrace the individuality of each group and respect the judgment of each group leader to determine what is optimal for their team.”