Ok I get RTO su-ks BUT has anyone considered that before COVID. Most of the staff was in that huge campus building off Fredericksburg rd. I think it boils down to those insane expenses it takes to run that campus. If it’s not occupied they are throwing money away no?? Is this thought too far fetched? Ppl did work at home but nowhere near when COVID happened. I think folks got comfortable. Just a thought
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The blatant lies about RTO being implemented for “culture“ is insulting! If that were truly the reason, then those individuals with less than X number of years service should be required to go into the office because they are the ones that have not “been exposed, or learned the culture”. If I, with 35+ year’s of service (& living within 60miles of an office) don’t have the culture now, going into the office isn’t going to change that!!!
RTO is ok but hybrid should be 2-3 days MAX in the office. Driving to campus should be if you live in the same city or within 30 miles. A one way trip over a 30 mile commute is over 60mins. I can say I have been back and not spending a dime for coffee or food.
100 years ago, when cars were replacing horse & buggy, you would've advocated mandatory purchasing of saddles and horseshoes to prop up those poor failing businesses. Times change. Even if you don't embrace it, at least don't use artificial coershion to maintain a failing system.
Then repurpose most of the buildings into housing and let the employees work from where they want to. I say most because you could keep a building wing for those few that want the in office experience. But let everyone else be remote. As long as the job is getting done what at this point does it matter where they do the work?
Commercial real estate portfolios > employees
A question I have not seen asked anywhere is what if the employees all decided to bring food from their homes? There seems to be a big concentration on filling the buildings and supporting the cafeteria, the coffee retailer, and the burger retailer (not providing names of these places). But what if the employees don’t have the money to support these and brown bag it? Are they going to all of a sudden mandate that the employees can no longer bring their lunches and that they must buy from these places or have that on their performance evaluations? I know it sounds stupid in real life and like a fantasy power or something from D&D, but the whole thing does. Where does the madness end?
And also bring back some if the amenities. Every location is complaining about the food. Gyms don’t have the staff or classes they used to. Complaints about campus being dirty etc…
RTO is happening everywhere. It isn’t unique to USAA. The problem at USAA is the lies.
People saying to sell or lease out the building don’t understand how messed up the commercial real estate market is. Would you sell your house for pennies on the dollar? I don’t like RTO any more than you do, but put yourself in their shoes.
My gripe is the spineless double talk from leadership on the reasons why I have to come back. Just grow a pair and say come back, or seek other employment. Don’t act like it helps the culture or fosters innovation. Plenty of experts out there who have already debunked that.
Good and decent people made very conscious decisions to apply to remote roles, for whatever reason - family, medical, personal convenience, cost savings, etc. Whatever the reason is, it doesn't really matter. They took the company at its word that they would have a remote position and career opportunities as a remote employee. It is extremely shady that these employees were sold a remote-forward environment only to have that agreement expediently reneged. Further, anyone that is currently in a remote position is considered persona non grata, certainly career-limited and likely headed for the chopping block, by a company that mercilessly bangs the "mission" drum and by executives that wrap themselves in the warm, silky banners of honesty, integrity, loyalty, and service - clearly all for show. Disgusting.
Been working remote for over a decade. It has always been that way for me. Then to have sone bullsh-t blanket statement RTO policy thrown over us, that seems a bit backwards to me.
I frankly have no problem knowing that the bloated real estate portfolio is truly the reason they want people back in the office. It's as plain as the nose on your face. But their disingenuous double-talk touting "collaboration", "better communication", "getting back to company culture", "water cooler conversations", etc. is complete and utter BS. Who do they think they're fooling? And that is largely to blame for people being angry about RTO. Well, that, and the fact that we're going into an office to get on the same Zoom calls all day with the clowns down the hall.
So you’re wasting money if the building is empty? So the fix is to fill it up? Isnt that more money? Sell/lease the building! This whole forcing people to buildings so that corp real estate and local restaurants and downtowns dont suffer is stupidity! You do realize times change, companies need to adapt with it, corporate America loves to encourage accepting change, while not practicing it!
Pre Covid, my area was “true” hybrid with 2 days in office and 3 at home, if we chose to be hybrid, with the requirement that we’d still be required to log in from home if weather shut down the roads and prevented us from driving to campus. While many chose to by hybrid, many decided not to, since they didn’t wanted to be off with pay of weather ever caused the roads/highways to be closed.
I used to work for a big healthcare company, and they are doing the same RTO that USAA seems to be doing. Been doing it since 2021, actually…. But now they are running reports on badge swipes, etc. Their mantra has been that they want to stimulate the local restaurants, etc…. But don’t mention the fact that they have financial investments in those.
Oddly enough, I will be rejoining USAA again soon as a contractor. This economy is making strange bedfellows!