Mayor Wu: Fidelity returning to office 5 days a week is 'great news' for downtown Boston - The Boston Globe

"Fidelity's announcement "was great news" for small businesses, which will feel an economic "boost" after workers start spending more money downtown, Wu said. The mayor said she was anticipating Fidelity's announcement, which made headlines at the end of April. The financial services giant employs more than 6,000 people in Boston, and 80,000 nationwide, with offices in Merrimack, N.H., Smithfield, R.I., Kentucky and New Mexico."

"Fidelity workers at those sites will be required to be in the office five days a week, except for employees below the vice president level at the Smithfield site, because it's not large enough to accommodate everyone, the Globe reported. Fidelity has been requiring Boston employees to work in-person for two full weeks out of every four. The full-time in-person requirement essentially doubles employees' commute time, the Globe reported."

"Wu said Bostonians are always going "back and forth," debating in-person versus remote work, and the importance of work-life balance. Wu used herself as an example, telling Dearing that she started dropping her third child off at daycare about three weeks ago. "As a person who is juggling the live-work, sometimes it feels very intense," said Wu."

"Downtown Boston has struggled in recent years after the pandemic enabled many people to work from home. Years later, many workers still only go into the office two or three days a week, and the lack of foot traffic downtown has put a financial strain on restaurants, bars, and other businesses that cater to workers. Almost halfway through 2026, many storefronts are empty and longstanding watering holes, such as Clarke's at Faneuil Hall, have shuttered."

Fidelity’s announcement is expected to provide an economic boost for small businesses as workers spend more money downtown. The company employs more than 6,000 people in Boston and 80,000 nationwide, with offices in multiple states. Fidelity workers at those sites will be required to be in the office five days a week, with an exception for employees below the vice president level at the Smithfield site due to space limits. Boston employees have already faced in-person requirements, which increase commute time. Downtown Boston has continued to struggle after the pandemic reduced foot traffic, leaving many storefronts empty and reducing demand for restaurants and bars. Data shows fewer people worked downtown in 2025 and workers averaged fewer office days per month than before the pandemic.

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