I still wouldn't see it as a perk to spend a few days together with the people with whom I work. I like working with them. I really do. But I also really like to do what I want when I am not on the clock.
And that would be so worth the tax cut. At least in my personal opinion.
I have been remote for six years and I love it, but still some of the biggest leaps forward in trust and communication I get with people happen when I spend time with them in person; and some of the most fruitful products and tech I’ve been involved in conceiving weren’t in a meeting set up to conceive them, but accidentally, while having a drink and being in the same room as someone I didn’t plan to be with.
Everyone is different and I’m not saying you should be forced to do any of this. I recognize that often these situations are just painful, depending on who you are and who your team is. Just saying the dollars have a specific purpose when being spent in this way.
The smart thing to do would be for companies to actually solicit feedback and listen to their employees in order to accommodate their needs. As it stands, one must actively work to prevent companies from sabotaging themselves through mandatory participation in activities that will ultimately be injurious to your mental health.