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 The worst part is that the outdated boomer narrative still lets them get away with it.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