[michaelt]

I've hired someone who lives 2 hours drive from the office.

When they were hired during the pandemic, it was agreed there would be an eventual return to the office at an unknown time in the future. They'd been planning a move to my (high-salary, high-cost-of-living) area before the pandemic, so that was just fine with them.

Now it's several years later. If I order a full return to the office they'll have a choice: Either move house, or move jobs.

Selling a house and buying a new one costs $$$$$ and is a huge hassle.

Seems to me pretty believable that they'd look at other jobs if a full return to office was ordered.