Home / Business and Economy / Philly's Empty Offices: Return-to-Work Falters
Philly's Empty Offices: Return-to-Work Falters
15 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Philadelphia ranks second-to-last in office occupancy among major US cities.
- Only 40.3% of Philadelphia workers were in offices on the slowest day last week.
- Some Philadelphia employees reportedly 'swipe in' then work remotely from home.
Workers in Philadelphia are returning to the office at a notably slow pace compared to other major US cities. Security firm Kastle Systems data reveals that Philadelphia's metropolitan area, home to over six million people, ranks among the worst for office occupancy. Last week, only 40.3% of employees were present on the slowest day, with 51.2% on the busiest, placing it second-to-last among ten measured metro areas.
Despite directives from large employers such as Comcast mandating four days a week in the office, employee compliance appears low. Reports indicate some workers are physically present only to 'swipe in' before resuming work remotely from home. This resistance is further evidenced by Philadelphia's average of 36.1% office occupancy since March 2020, a rate higher than only San Francisco and San Jose during that period.
The struggle for office occupancy in Philadelphia is a complex issue. While some business leaders, like Wendy Verna, founder of a local marketing firm, lament the loss of mentorship opportunities in remote work, employees like data analyst Jennifer Beals value the flexibility for personal tasks. Philadelphia's mayor's previous order for 26,000 municipal workers to return five days a week also met significant opposition.
