JPMorgan’s futuristic HQ, where even the coffee is high-tech

JPMorgan Chase, America’s largest bank by assets, is requiring all of its 300k+ employees to return to its offices full time — but for ~14k of them, who will soon be working out of the bank’s new NYC headquarters, going into the office won’t look like business as usual. 

The building — a 60-story, 2.5m-square-foot, all-electric skyscraper due to open in October — cost ~$3B, and much of the budget has seemingly gone toward some high-tech upgrades, per Business Insider. 

• “Work at JPMC” app: a platform for navigating the mini-city of a building, with functionalities like locating bike storage and ordering food, which the company claims will “boost your work efficiency.” 
• Palm scanners: In addition to physical and digital badges, employees can enroll in “biometric authentication” to get past the lobby’s turnstiles with a wave of their hand. 
• Circadian lighting: which involves adjusting the intensity, color temperature, and timing of light to support the body’s natural circadian rhythm. (The firm’s windows will also bring in 30% more natural light.)
• Auto-locking bathrooms: As a security measure, each floor’s primary bathroom will be equipped with an emergency lock that alerts building security when activated. 
• Touch-free coffee machines: Employees can have their exact coffee orders prepared using QR-coded machines, for a more sanitary break room experience. (Shout out covid.)  

It also features state-of-the-art wellness facilities including yoga and meditation rooms, natural green spaces, a multilevel food hall, sweeping city views, and even its own signature scent. 

With RTO mandates in full swing…

… and just 42% of workers willing to return full time, companies are trying to incentivize employees to work in person again with upgraded perks and amenities. JPMorgan’s investment in its fancy HQ is a shining example of it. 

Is tech that knows how you take your coffee really something workers care about more than their autonomy, though? 

Probably not. 

But well-designed offices… 

…have been shown to boost productivity and employee satisfaction, and with heightened safety concerns around office shootings, perks like enhanced security and better lighting can help make RTO-ing feel less dreadful… which is a good thing when you don’t have a choice in the matter. 

Reluctant JPMC employees do, however, still have the option to quit. 

In February, CEO Jamie Dimon told CNBC that those folks “can get a job elsewhere.”