Why Companies Really Want You Back: The $0 Layoff Strategy

Is RTO Really About Culture

In 2022, we had the “Great Resignation.” In 2024, we had “Quiet Quitting.” In February 2026, we have entered what I’m calling the “Great Compliance.” According to recent survey data, only 7% of workers say they would quit over a return-to-office mandate today, down from 51% just a year ago.

But this isn’t because employees have suddenly rediscovered their love for fluorescent lighting and cubicles. It’s because they’re terrified of what we discussed last week: the hiring recession that has left job seekers competing for what few jobs are still available while corporate America rakes in millions in profits.

The leverage has shifted. It is no longer the candidate market that existed briefly. And companies know it.

Hybrid Creep: The Slow-Motion Retreat from Flexibility
The playbook is predictable. It starts with encouraging people to return to the office for two days a week, which seems reasonable. Then it moves to “three days required,” usually announced in a carefully worded email about rebuilding our culture.