It’s not a return — COVID was 5 years ago. That’s longer than most people’s tenure here. Entire careers, promotions, and job changes happened under the hybrid deal. Most folks being told to “come back” have never even set foot in the office they’re assigned to.
Call it what it is: a change to your employment terms. The “return” branding is just a legal move — makes it easier to deny unemployment and skip severance checks. Translation? It’s not about collaboration. It’s about cutting costs without calling it a layoff.