Technology

I do think there is some evidence that companies are just doing that stuff regardless. There's a "speedup" I think I've seen it called, a push to do more with fewer people and make basic benefits feel more like a privilege.

My company fortunately did not issue RTO mandates but has taken to requiring people to work watched in a Zoom room all day and explain any bathroom trips longer than 3 minutes. That's where I think the real estate angle becomes relevant, probably the only reason my workplace went the other direction and full-remote is that a) we're stalking people on zoom now and timing their #2s and b) we're midsize with few close corporate relatives, and leased all our space previously. We have no other skin in the game besides saving a massive overhead cost

That’s the entire point of RTO drives.

It's really not, although I'm sure more than one C-Suite dweller has gotten a chuckle out of it. No the real point of RTO is trying to stop or soften a pending Commercial Real Estate apocalypse that could be even worse than the 2008 Financial Crisis. It's imminent too, like if it hasn't started already then it will in the next 60-90 days.

We'll know if its begun by looking at the Q1 CRE default rates when they come out in April. If the rate is over 1.9% then you should start keeping your cash in a mattress and stockpiling food...and I'm only semi-joking.