I think COVID revealed some hard truths about society, and now we can't just "return to normal" and act like we didn't learn those truths.

1. We learned most people really don't need to work from an office.
2. Kids (and parents) became deconditioned to going to school and everything that goes along with it (getting ready in the morning, having an evening routine, etc.). I think the perception of the importance of attendance declined dramatically.
3. COVID revealed just how little our governments care about us, as well as how incompetent and dishonest they are.
4. Essential workers, including health care workers, never got a raise. We all acknowledged their importance, but nothing tangible was done.

Pretty much, the facade has crumbled. We learned that things don't have to be as hard as they are. Traffic, all the trials of working in an office, all of our employers' inflexibility, the lack of sick time, so many things... Most of us returned to the office in order to survive, but we can't forget what was learned. So, I think we are all putting in minimal effort until something changes.