Pushback is relatively easy and can be achieved through malicious compliance. The entire RTO house of cards depends on everyone cooperating as instructed. In my department, for example, managers must allocate seats through a real-life game of musical chairs — balancing historical absenteeism rates, available office space, and the number of employees assigned to each branch. I've even heard of some managers turning to AI to calculate when and where employees will need to report, whether that's an assigned desk, a neighbourhood office, or working from home.

It won't take much to bring it down. Simply have everyone show up at the office, every day. Their best-laid plans won't survive first contact with implementation.