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 The worst part is that the outdated boomer narrative still lets them get away with it.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.



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.