Because we showed them their suffering was optional, not mandatory, and then made them suffer anyway
I was full time remote from March 2020 through April 2022. I loved it. My employer started bringing people back in the office then with our policy expecting people in the office at least three days a week. At the time I grumbled a little, but once in the office I found value in being here rather than home. Not value to the company, value to what I want out of my career. I think our policy is reasonable. We're a small enough company the individual relationships are significant. It also provides flexibility. Need to be home to let a plumber in? Just do it, no need to even inform your boss other than letting them know you'll be on Teams not in a meeting room. The most important thing about our policy is it's been consistent. It's what they were saying for months before being implemented, and it's been unchanged ever since. I can plan my life around this. My old job went to full remote. I've talked to people there who are all-in on remote, and one joked if they bring people back to the office he'll be looking for a job, and I believe him. I talked to another guy who said he's usually in the office and it's odd having a mix of people he sees every day and people, including his staff, who he never sees. I think they'll start bringing people back and create a lot of angst because of the change. After change, I think people are upset that salaries are up 2% while corporate profits are up 8% with inflation of 5%.
My employer is on a short, sharp rollercoaster with this. Covid hit -> remote work encouraged -> general applause at the minimal disruption to BAU -> Covid "ended" -> 'get back in our expensive offices you ungrateful jackasses' -> financial crisis -> 'can people work remotely so we can sell buildings or escape leases? Please? Pleeeease?'unpopular return-to-office mandates may be to blame. Human resources professionals should reconsider and advocate for flexible or fully remote work environments.