These are huge factors. I work in an industry where a couple firms that are very well run, have large investments in tech/infra and also, were the hardest RTO p

These are huge factors. I work in an industry where a couple firms that are very well run, have large investments in tech/infra and also, were the hardest RTO pushers. A lot of also-rans that have made piddling investments in tech/infra are now following along and saying things like "well our competitors have RTO". It's doubly funny because they pay less well, and therefore could have instead used flexibility as a hiring incentive. Instead the offer is - we pay less, and make you come into the office just as much! It's like explicitly screening for second-best employees.