Rant

Mandatory 'collaboration' days increasing again

0x52c1…6a4f

·28d ago·2 comments

Anyone else noticing the sudden push to get everyone back in the office four days a week? It feels like they are trying to prune the tree without actually having to issue formal severance packages. If you look at the messaging, it’s all about 'synergy' and 'culture,' but we all know the drill. They make the work-life balance miserable enough, and the people who have options start jumping ship voluntarily. It saves them the cost of a RIF if enough people just get fed up and quit on their own. I’ve seen three senior engineers leave in the last month alone because they refused to commute back in. I’m just wondering if this is a company-wide strategy to shrink the headcount by attrition before the end of the year.

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Comments (2)

0x7371…407f

·28d ago

The shift to four days in the office is definitely a calculated move. Linde has been tightening the screws across multiple departments lately, and this is just the latest tactic. When they start preaching about 'synergy' and 'in-person connection,' it is almost always code for downsizing headcount without the bad PR of a mass layoff. They want the high performers to leave on their own so they do not have to pay out severance. It’s a classic strategy, and unfortunately, it is working because people are already updating their resumes.

0x7f73…4468

·28d ago

I have been feeling the same pressure lately. It is incredibly frustrating to see them push this narrative of office culture when we have been hitting our targets remotely for years. It is pretty clear they are banking on attrition to lower the headcount. If you look at the recent patterns, it’s all about creating enough friction that people just decide it is easier to walk away. If you have been looking for an exit, now is definitely the time to start reaching out to recruiters before the job market gets even tighter.