Ding ding ding … this is the most overlooked aspect of the RTO/WFH dynamic.
The hidden layoff round is also high on that list if you ask me. They call everyone back to the office, the people that dont want/cant will not adhere, and thus be fired without the companies having to pay severance.
I we are all cogs at some point but I really have trouble being this cynical.
It's a layoff, but a really poor one losing exactly the people you don't want to lose.
and so right after, Square has gone fully remote as well as X has mostly left the Bay area
"But will the employees be happy, and will good ones stay?"
"Seven to one, my friend. They're just grumbling like always."
From the bosses point of view RTO is a costly signal that demonstrates how much people want to work for them - signals must be costly in order to be effective. Promoting WFO as more productive and less costly destroys the signaling aspect. Perhaps workers could offer other costly signals - maybe regular arduous in person team building exercises that management can show their friends photos. I really can't think of many alternative socially acceptable costly signals that can be required from employees which is probably why RTO continues to remain so popular.