Although I don't agree with "RTO" on general principles, I do understand why some companies are asking employees to return to the office. However, the way AT&T is going about it is ridiculous.
Employees who are expected to work in the office full time should have designated areas to sit and do their work. They should have the monitors and equipment that they need. They should not have to lug these items from home on a daily basis. They should not have to rely upon a broken "reservation system". The current system is unsustainable, and in no universe that I am aware of, increase productivity. If people need to collaborate, the office situation should facilitate that. Randomly sitting next to different people who have no relationship to the work you are doing is not going to provide any meaningful collaboration. Anyone disagreeing with this... show me the data that says otherwise.
AT&T cannot attract new talent when operating under this process. Can you imagine bringing someone in for an interview and having them take note of this fiasco?
We've all heard it said that this isn't really about RTO anyway... it's about getting rid of people. Wouldn't it be kinder and quicker and in the long wrong, more productive, to just lay them off?
Whoever hatched this plan is seriously lacking even basic management skills.