Newest ploy from USB to reduce the workforce without layoffs (same vein as RTO) seems to be the strict limitations on geographical locations that new positions can be posted in.
If you’re in a different location from your team, and your team operates out of an Ops hub, but you’re in a service center, you can kiss any advancement within the team goodbye. Whether you RTO or not. Recruiters and hiring managers can “request approval” for a one off in a different geographic region than what’s posted/approved but I have yet to hear of one being approved.
Ask me to do the work of 3 people, refuse me any advancement and watch me quite quit my way to that severance check 🫡