Why the sudden push for RTO mandate in non-essential roles?

This is definitely a page right out of the classic corporate playbook. When Fortive pushes these mandates, they aren't looking for collaboration; they are looking for attrition. By forcing people back three days a week, they know the employees who value their flexibility will eventually jump ship. It’s a cynical way to trim the headcount without triggering the optics or the costs associated with actual layoffs. I’ve noticed a few key people in my department updating their LinkedIn profiles already. Watch the quiet exit trend accelerate over the next month.

I don’t think it's necessarily about saving on severance, though that’s a nice bonus for them. To me, this feels more like a top-down power move to restore 'culture' that nobody actually asked for. They want control, and seeing empty desks makes middle management feel useless. My team has been incredibly productive remotely for years, but suddenly that doesn't matter because of an arbitrary policy shift. I’m honestly just waiting to see if leadership actually enforces the badges or if this is just another empty threat meant to instill fear.