White-collar workers temporarily enjoyed unprecedented power during the pandemic to decide where and how they worked.

  • just_change_it@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    commercial real estate values are one rationale but I don’t really buy that unless you own the property. Lots of companies that don’t own their property are doing it.

    One big rationale behind forcing return to office is that it causes soft layoffs from all of the people who do not want to return to in person working. It’s a great way to downsize without announcing layoffs and taking a share price hit.

    • _Sc00ter@lemmy.ml
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      10 months ago

      A part of that real estate equation is that the municipalities give tax breaks to the companies because they anticipate the extra people in the area getting them more money from gas stations, lunches, etc. Those contracts usually state that the building needs to have a certain occupancy for them to maintain the credit… and now municipalities are coming knocking for their back taxes since buildings haven’t been full.

      Thats what’s happening around me, at least

    • frezik@midwest.social
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      10 months ago

      Sunk cost. No matter if they buy or lease their building, it seems like a waste to have it empty all the time. But that money isn’t coming back whether employees come in or not.

      Hold out a couple more years for leases to expire. Office real estate market hasn’t seen its bottom yet.