Let's say I have no interest in the job. I'm a for-profit operation; I'm in it for the money.

I work 8 hours a day for $X in pay. And it takes 2 hours in the car to get there, so it's really $X for 10 hours of my time plus some gasoline (unless I drive an electric).

Then Covid happens, and work from home becomes a real possibility. Now the deal is $X for 8 hours, not 10, because I don't have to drive to the office and back. I like that deal better, because I get two hours of my life back every day.

Now you want me to go back to the office every day, losing that two hours, for no more money? And the reason you give me is that I get to hang out with my coworkers? No, I don't like them that much.