From my experience in another tech company it’s not even the direct managers that want people back, it’s all c-suite and up that are trying to force it. Makes it easy to poach talent for any companies offering full remote though
The C suite who are looking at the expensive leases they’re paying for buildings that aren’t being used, or their friends who own those buildings.
Another element of this is that businesses have less leverage in negotiations with local government to carve out tax breaks and other incentives if their employees don’t go to the office.
The argument for a long time was that they were bringing a ton of business to the area (employees going out to eat and patroning other businesses) so you should send some kickbacks our way.