A JPMorgan Chase analyst who publicly challenged CEO Jamie Dimon’s return-to-office policy was reportedly terminated shortly after his remarks, but the management rescinded that decision just hours later, according to reports.

Nicholas Welch, a technology operations analyst with eight years at the firm, expressed his dissatisfaction with the return-to-office order—a sentiment shared by many employees at the nation’s largest bank.

On January 10, the company’s 317,000 staff members were notified of the requirement to shift back to full-time office attendance five days a week starting next month.

Welch, who is going through a divorce, noted the importance of flexibility to handle family and childcare responsibilities, as reported by Fortune.

During a recent town hall meeting in Columbus, Ohio, he questioned Dimon about the possibility of allowing lower-level managers to determine their teams’ in-office schedules.

Welch pointed out that his team of seven operates across different countries and time zones, making it clear that being physically present in an office would not significantly impact their productivity. “I’m not suggesting you cancel the order completely,” Welch told Dimon, “but I think managers should have the autonomy to decide what’s best for their teams regarding office attendance.”

His query drew applause from coworkers, but Dimon swiftly dismissed the idea. “Is that all?” Dimon retorted. “To give you the full response: there’s no chance I’ll leave that decision to managers.”

Dimon further remarked on the “extraordinary” level of abuse of remote work privileges during the pandemic, stating that the company had expanded its payroll by approximately 50,000 employees since 2020. “We don’t need all those people,” he stated, adding that many were hired due to a lack of performance from existing staff.

Dimon also criticized a petition signed by around 13,000 employees urging him to reconsider the office mandate, stating, “I don’t care how many people endorse that petition.”

Following the intense town hall meeting, which featured around 1,000 in attendance and even more online, Welch received positive feedback from colleagues, who congratulated him for speaking up. However, that support quickly turned into concern when company Vice President Garrett Monaghan allegedly sent him a message saying, “I don’t know what you just did, but come to my desk right after this meeting ends.”

Monaghan allegedly informed Welch he had “dragged our entire organization through the mud” and instructed him to “clean out your desk and get out of here,” as reported by Fortune.

Welch complied, taking his belongings and leaving the office. “I’ve never been told to leave like that before,” he stated.

He attempted to reach out to his direct supervisor, Richard Cundiff, but received limited response and little consolation. “Thanks for the heads-up,” Cundiff reportedly replied when Welch informed him about the precarious status of his job.

For the next several hours, Welch felt resigned to the idea that he had lost his job, but around 4:30 p.m., Megan Mead, the company’s global IT support executive director, reached out to him to clarify that she had talked to Monaghan and that he still had his position, according to the outlet.

Shortly thereafter, Monaghan allegedly sent Welch a text to express his apologies. “I agree with your message, if not the delivery. Are we good?” Monaghan reportedly texted, adding that he owed Welch a beer and handshake.

That evening, Mead also reached out to Welch, expressing her appreciation for his handling of the situation and her pride in his actions.

Currently, the company seems to be in a state of damage control, with a spokesperson stating that Welch was never dismissed and remains a valued employee. “He did not say anything inappropriate during the meeting,” the representative confirmed.

Cundiff also contended that Welch’s claims about being fired are untrue, although he did not provide any additional comments.

Despite this, some employees believed that Welch had indeed been terminated, even though it’s uncertain whether any official documentation was ever completed.

“When a senior manager orders you to pack your things and leave, I would interpret that as an immediate firing,” commented a JPMorgan worker to the outlet.

While Welch still has his job and gained some recognition among his peers for standing up to management, he remains frustrated with how he was treated during the ordeal. “I want to do the job I’m passionate about in the way I feel is best,” he expressed. “That’s my hope moving forward.”