#returntooffice

Do we have sufficient seats ? any news ?

Letting people work from home for the month would be a much needed reset from the weekly he-l of commuting five days a week. Most employees will be on vacation anyway, so how much real collaboration will happen? Offices will be sparsely populated, it’s dark and cold, and seasonal illnesses are everywhere.

Closing the offices for a month would also save a huge amount of money. For a company of AT&T’s size, one month of office expenses: utilities, cleaning, security, and overhead likely runs into tens of millions of dollars. That money could go toward employee bonuses instead of forcing people into empty offices. Employees get relief, morale improves, and the company saves money. Win-win.

It’s common knowledge amongst the Leadership that Federal approval for the Frontier deal had a condition attached for Verizon to get staff back into the office…Hammocks video was a smokescreen. It has nothing to do with collaboration and everything to do with keeping the US Government on side

Saw a few of these posts about 5 day RTO in January and there’s supposed to be an email coming out soon. Anyone have info on this?

When are we going to call out this company for doing small layoffs to stay under the WARN number to keep it quiet and implementing RTO to make our lives miserable so that the EC gets the attrition they are looking for? Rick said no plans to change RTO in 2025 because he knew he was going to change it for 2026 and no large scale layoffs because he has a bunch of small scales ones planned. He doesn't want to be called a liar like Walt was but I'm tired of them not being transparent about what they have planned. This place used to care about employees but now its the same corporate McKinsey nonsense we see everywhere else. Executives getting insane amounts of stock compensation and trying to make it sound like we are getting a good deal getting less than three percent raises and an extra 10 percent bonus. 100k comp is comparable to 54k 20 years ago

Many are doing factory or punch clock, 8 hours and done. Innovation, extra items, change or update nope 8hrs , no 10plus hrs, no nights, no weekends why because those that had to did it and never complained. I see many in the office that I agree need to be there, but I also see what are they doing (nothing) since not in meetings throughout the day, one group is the so called (ACC monster) The mess up is they bundled the do’ers the ones that they know have gone above repeatedly to keep things going and in react mode when needed at anytime and never complained with the groups that can work 8hrs be done until the next day, those never are accountable. YES SIR that is where leadership sc--wed up, since without those that do the actual support and now 8hrs will unfortunately reflect in these RTO metrics missing just like the missing Employee survey that went missing a few years ago. Something leadership to date has never recovered as in TRUST ( PLE Class) with their managers. I think many that read this agree!

When was Toast’s current hybrid work policy for North America first introduced? The one with different requirements for on-time work for employees living within 25 miles from an office location. Also, is this policy actually enforced for those employees?

Let's vent in this thread. That's it, that is the message.

Currently, quite a few fully remote workers are still with the company. Once they got rid of promotions/job growth for remote employees, it seemed like layoffs are imminent. What are the chances that remote employees are let go once RTO 2.0 starts in Feb?

I guess we need it every once in a while. It so su-ks.

And push as many of us out as they can along the way. Anyone who thinks this is about anything other than maximizing profits by getting rid of people on the cheap is being naive.

It seems everyone comes to this site to complain, but I am here to celebrate. Our new CEO has announced that 3 day RTO is here to stay. This is wonderful news and proof that Srini trusts his leadership team and all of us to do our jobs! Thank you Srini! you are awesome!

Does anyone have reliable information on planned changes for RTO - are we going to be expected in office more days soon?

The issue with big corporations is that they have a one-size fits all approach to their employees, which lets face it - it's the least effective model. The responses from this post is proof of this. Good companies, take the time to take a macro look at what works for each department. Sure, it makes sense that creatives and productive teams would benefit from being in the office 5 days a week, but so many other departments, finance, legal, etc., would probably do well with 2 to 3 days a week. Their deliverables do not depend on staff being in the office every day. Companies that employ RTO is not really about collaboration or bringing everyone together. It's a tactic. To force people out (called a backdoor layoff - you can look it up) and to create a controlled office labor. Check out those companies that have done this in the last few years - isn't it odd, those announcements come with public admission of issues in the company, along with huge layoffs?

Good post. Putting it up for visibility.
OP: @am+1kakpjk0y

If it’s true that a full RTO mandate is coming in January, that’s what will really hit us. They’ll 100% set the requirements so they’re impossible, or near impossible, for a lot of people to meet, fully aware that everyone will bend over backwards to comply given the job market. RTO will just become another way to push people out without calling it cuts.

Expect an email after Thanksgiving. Welcome to the new Verizon

Anyone see today’s nuke on The Post about RTO?

The guy just comes off like a j@ck @$$.

I am hearing of remote directors being told to begin reporting to hubs. I checked my own director in the directory and they are now reclassified as working out of a hub. Anyone else noticing a change in remote to hub status?

Perhaps this is old news, but heard for the first time today that even established telecommuters within 35 miles of an office are going to be required in office 5 days.

Wow. I heard they’re about to lay off another 2000 employees, most likely in order to make room for fully in person work next year

The employee-employer power balance has shifted firmly to the employer, according to Glassdoor’s 2026 Worklife Trends report — and it has prompted employees to reexamine their engagement in turn.

https://www.hrdive.com/news/forever-layoffs-and-rto-pressure-employers-hold-the-power-again/805673/

Currently working Hybrid and been told that Thursday is remote day while Tuesday and Wednesday are office days.

Def not a coincidence even if they want to frame it as early thanksgiving break.

Going back to the office 5 days a week starting on January 5th? No work life balance? It sounded like we can’t even work from home to take or kid to a doctors appointment?

Only 6 more weeks until 4x days WFO.
I can't wait for us all to get back to the office - we are better together.
This will make us beat Exxon for sure

The best people leave first. Not that Medtronic seems to care about keeping skilled and experienced employees.

With recent announcements stating jobs would only be open in the main hub locations, I bet layoffs for workers who don't live close to the a hub. More and more people are required to go into the office so it's only makes sense. Why get rid of 1 millionaire vp when you can get rid of 15,000 low level employees? If you want to stay with the company, they are still aggressively hiring in all other countries except the United States.

Didn’t last long with the “return to office.”

So, what actually happens if someone doesn’t stick to the 5-day RTO policy? Will managers just note it during performance reviews, meaning it could impact our bonuses or raises? Just wondering what steps Truist expects managers to take with team members who don’t follow the policy.

Pre covid office was 5 days, so I don’t think it’s new rule. As well it’s too hard to communicate with remote people, sometimes responses are super slow and confusing.

1. Collaboration: Being in the office can make face-to-face meetings and spontaneous brainstorming easier.
2. Culture building: Physical presence can help new hires integrate and reinforce company values.
3. Visibility: Managers can see work happening and provide real-time feedback.
4. Team cohesion: Shared space can strengthen relationships and alignment across teams.
5. Structured environment: For some roles, having a dedicated workspace helps employees stay focused and productive.

You see how these are all good things? Just RTO 5 days as you’re asked and we can turn this company around. Cmon guys. It might even be fun!

Well, I just got notice from my manager. I hate to break the news, but the 5 days RTO rumor is true. It’s not 3 days anymore it will now be 5. Seems they are planning to use RTO to reduce headcount without severance. Just fair warning to y’all. I am in shock.

Just calling it now — once AIP drops in March, Q1–Q2 2026 is going to be a bloodbath for Truist talent. Every high performer who still cares enough to tough it out right now is probably already polishing their résumé. Between the 5-day RTO nonsense, the constant cost-cutting “initiatives” that make zero sense, and leadership’s habit of treating teammates like disposable headcount, why would anyone with real market value stick around?

It’s honestly painful watching good people get run into the ground while execs talk about “purpose” and “care” in the same breath they use to justify another round of cuts or policy rollbacks. The writing’s on the wall — once the bonus hits, the exits will light up.

Truist keeps acting like folks don’t have options. Spoiler: they do. And the ones who’ve kept the lights on are about to prove it.

• Paramount told staff they must return to the office five days a week starting in January and offered a voluntary severance package to employees at vice president level and below who did not want to comply.
• Around 600 people, mainly in Los Angeles and New York, chose the payout instead of coming back full time. This comes on top of earlier layoffs and broader restructuring and cost cutting after the Skydance merger, including leadership changes at CBS News and canceling “The Late Show.”
• Critics say the new owner David Ellison is reshaping the company in ways that may also be politically aligned with President Trump, who recently settled a lawsuit with Paramount and has praised Ellison’s direction.

https://thehill.com/homenews/media/5600559-paramount-layoffs-office-return/

does anyone know if RTO hour are being tracked/days in office? Will it affect our bonus this year?

Anyone have clarity on what half day pto convert to in terms of hours? Its listed as in office day but does it count as full 8 hours worked?

Truist bank will require all employees to return to the office five days a week starting early next year, ending pandemic-era work-from-home policies. Hybrid work arrangements split between home and office will end starting Jan. 5, the Charlotte-based bank confirmed to The Charlotte Observer Wednesday. This shift from pandemic-era remote work policies is meant to boost in-person collaboration and reinforce corporate culture, Truist said.
Read more at: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article312885549.html#storylink=cpy

LE's son's acorn didn't fall far from the tree:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/600-paramount-skydance-employees-quit-instead-of-returning-to-the-office-and-it-cost-the-company-185-million-filings-show/ar-AA1QeuAq?uxmode=ruby&ocid=edgdhpruby&pc=DCTS&cvid=691415c2ca144a0197f8d3c562227e9a&ei=9

I wonder if LE is more interested in this industry more than high-tech.
The circus continues.

heard rumors about more lay offs coming in December (including lower level) & a 5 day work week coming back. any confirmations?

My entire team lives in hub areas where the standard of living is very high. We are forced to come in 5x8 while enduring crazy traffic situations to and from work. Some of them were even asked to move to hub locations and subsequently fired.

My direct manager reports to some sort of ghetto CO where he’s surrounded by gamblers and prost---tion. He brags about paying “0” state tax. How is this fair?

Work as prescribed 9-5 M-F. Been done nearly a century. Prove they do not need to send your job overseas. RTO is for collaboration and winning. No whining.