[chiefalchemist]

Give it time. The (RTO) companies are on the wrong side of history. Ideally these mandates are something the (employment) market will never forget. It will be interesting to see in the near future how many of the RTO execs at these companies will be whining about their struggles finding talent and/or having to pay a premium to attain and return the level of talent they need.

Of course few, if any of these execs will admit they got it wrong. That the root of the problem was their heavy-handed mandates and how they compromised the brand in the (employment) market.

[lazide]

Eh, people forget. Heard about Blackwater lately? Or was it Xe? Or Academi?

And they always complain about stuff like that, even when they aren’t playing games!

[chiefalchemist]

Yes and no. What needs to be factored in is, does the best / top talent forget? Or are they ones with more focus and memory? Does their marketability allow them to be more selective?

I think you see where this is going :)

[lazide]

Oh I'm well aware. How many downturns have you lived through?

It's rarely so easy when times get lean, but everyone has a different experience for sure!

[chiefalchemist]

Compromising in the short term to meet immediate needs isn't the same as forgetting. Once the tough times have passed, the memory rejuvenates and those who can do (i.e., leave).

[lazide]

Everyone leaves eventually, even if by retirement or death.

A great many people say they’ll leave ‘any day now’, or ‘after my next paycheck’ - but then somehow never do.

On the employer side, they care about output and costs, and the longer people stay (and keep producing) without need for raises or increased expenses, generally the lower their costs and the greater their output.

[chiefalchemist]

That might be true, but it's effectively a long-winded description of mediocrity. Mediocrity will only get you so far. Mediocrity means you're less competitive. Mediocrity means the only way to rise is if your competitor becomes even more mediocre. Mediocrity means to always live in fear that the "trick" isn't going to last much longer. And so on.

The point is, those environments, those cultures don't capture and retain top talent. Again, those who can...do (i.e., leave).

re: "Everybody leave..." Come on. You've got to do better than this. This isn't Reddit.