Verizon was keen on having us work from home because our business was supporting other corporations working from home. With global clients I had to keep a 24 hour schedule to host calls to direct service changeovers from other networks to our own. The first time I worked with people in China or Viet Nam, it gave me pause for a moment.
Some occupations scream remote work from home. I once tried to name all of the managers, senior managers, directors or vice presidents that I directly reported to in those ten years but couldn't remember them all. In corporate shuffles I would be assigned to someone and then a week later to someone else. A couple of times I reported to Vice Presidents, usually to add to their personnel headcount to make them less redundant. Needless to say, I didn't talk to my management, every day and sometimes not even every week.
I had a one year notice from my team lead that I would be laid off but when it finally happened, I was amazed at the "yuge" severance package! I lived on it for a couple of years until I felt I could go on SS with a small penalty and still keep a good investment portfolio.
My overarching point is, there are some jobs and professions that lend themselves to remote work, and some that don’t.
And the decision should be up to the employer.
The employee can make the decision (and will) to only work at places that allow them to go full remote.
But the endpoint of that is not going to be more productivity overall, it is going to be less, IMO.
And Productivity is what set American industry apart for so many years. This is simply bringing US Productivity into line with many other countries as a part of Globalism.
And I don’t think that is a good idea. But it looks like it is going to happen, and according to plan.
Someone’s plan.
And by the way, congratulations on your retirement, FRiend...:)