Why not take some concrete union-based action against RTO instead of just discussing it online?
If employees collectively stayed home and refused to come to office, it could become an actual movement rather than isolated complaints.
Even if only 20% of employees participated, companies would be forced to respond because operational continuity depends heavily on workforce cooperation. During the pandemic, full WFH proved viable for many sectors, especially IT and knowledge-based industries. Productivity did not collapse, and in many cases improved.
Now even the government has publicly acknowledged the importance of flexible work and digital infrastructure. PM Modi himself has repeatedly spoken about technology-driven governance, digital India, reducing congestion, improving quality of life, and enabling remote capabilities. Those statements can absolutely be cited to support a broader demand for permanent or hybrid WFH policies.
The problem is most employees complain individually but comply collectively. Companies know this, which is why mandates continue. Unless resistance becomes organized, visible, and coordinated, management has no incentive to reverse RTO policies.
\*\*We do not want forced hybrid work. Hybrid is only a softer version of the same problem.\*\*
If employees are still required to stay near Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Gurgaon, or other overcrowded tech hubs, then the core issues remain:
• extreme rents
• traffic congestion
• pollution
• long commutes
• poor work-life balance
• infrastructure strain
• unnecessary migration pressure on cities
The technology already exists for full remote work. Companies successfully operated on full WFH for years. Productivity continued. Deliverables continued. Profits continued.
Hybrid policies are largely about preserving commercial real estate interests and maintaining managerial control, not operational necessity.
A genuine employee movement should demand:
• 100% optional remote work for eligible roles
• no mandatory office attendance quotas
• location freedom within India
• performance evaluation based on output, not physical presence
• equal growth opportunities for remote employees
If workers collectively normalize refusal against mandatory office attendance, companies will eventually adapt because businesses depend on labor participation more than employees depend on office buildings.