The return-to-office is just layoffs in disguise

Google is changing its "Work From Anywhere" policy. Is it soft launching a future return-to-office mandate?

Companies like Google, Microsoft, and Ford know exactly what they're doing. They force people back to the office, fully aware that many will quit rather than comply. It’s a calculated move, fewer severance payouts, no unemployment costs, and a cleaner reputation than official layoffs. If they admitted the truth, there'd be backlash but frame it as "collaboration" or "culture" and suddenly no one questions it. The worst part is that the outdated boomer narrative still lets them get away with it. It's not about work it's about control and cost-cutting, wrapped in buzzwords.

ohill 16 points a year ago

Not even really disguised it clearly shouts "We’re downsizing"!

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corsicanguppy 8 points a year ago

I love how the Dead Sea Effect has been a thing forever, and yet companies still do this 'downsizing by cruelty' like they won't shed any talent who is at all portable.

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reddig33 15 points a year ago

Untargeted layoffs are a great way to lose valuable employees.

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BakerBagel 9 points a year ago

I have a friend who does customer service for Sherwin Williams in Cleveland. They just built a new office downtown and did surveys during construction to determine how many offices and parking spaces they would need for everyone doing hybrid work. Last month they announced that everyone needs to return to office. Except the building was designed for a fraction of the staff

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corsicanguppy 7 points a year ago

Except the building was designed for a fraction of the staff

Google started hot-desking, so I imagine staff had to clean up all personalization (part of the soul of google) so your flair wasn't visual clutter for the other two shifts using your desk.

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BakerBagel 4 points a year ago

Yupp, no personal items allowed in the cubicles now. Only they aren't hot desking since everyone was mandated to come in to the office. It's layoffs in all but name

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b0ber 3 points a year ago

Almost the same thing happened at my company. First, they reduced most of the offices, then they tried to force everyone back. Luckily somehow my team managed to stay remote on new contracts.

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Sineljora 4 points a year ago

String them along as long as possible and be clear that you don’t want to resign. Get another remote job at the same time the RTO mandates are, and then burn through all PTO, sick time, and good will always saying “sorry logistics, I’ll be in office soon”.

Do this until they fire you and give you severance. If they don’t fire you, you’ve called their bluff for now and can think over the following weeks about getting your free time back by deciding which job to keep.

You’ll have the leverage to stand with your fellow employees while coming out ahead, at the expense of your free time for several months.

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emilee 4 points a year ago

Spot on. The "culture" excuse just hides who really benefits from RTO.

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SlartyBartFast 3 points a year ago

No shit. What we gonna do about it, though? What can be done about it?

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Jhex 2 points a year ago

MS is done for after the AI bubble pops anyway... they went head first, no safeties and have prioritized next quarter results over any strategy long term position

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