I work for the big banks. Even they are having to accept hybrid schedules for their employees and for experienced ones....100% remote.
I had one (HSBC) I was playing footsie with about 6 months ago. The project I was going to work on got cancelled and I moved on and got a project with another bank. Then HSBC had another project that was similar they wanted done and started contacting me again (more experienced folks in the areas I do are not plentiful). I mentioned I took a contract with another bank 100% remote. They were stunned....”and they accept that???” (me living several states away from where the other bank is located). I said “Sure! They have no problem with it. Nor does (another big bank I was negotiating with).”
Most of them have figured out by now they’re just going to have to accept remote work if they want people with some of the experience and skills they are looking for. Otherwise they simply won’t be able to compete in the market for those people.
I see that as well, for particular skill sets in high demand. Those workers can apparently decide for themselves if they want to work remotely or not.
The problem for cities is that they preyed on those workers and their employers for tax revenues (NYC has a CITY income tax); while NJ workers of NYC companies working remotely are for the time being considered NYC employees for tax purposes, I’m sure some have officially switched to small NJ offices of their companies (still working remotely) to escape that tax trap.
Most employees cannot handle remote work. Unless you are a senior employee.
It will be interesting to have a study to see how productive remote workers are.