UBI would be such a big tax burden, that politicians would start promising to abolish it. Hence, I don't think it could last in a democracy.

That confirms my anecdotal experience. At times I felt I was losing my mind with all the "record low unemployment" and "soft landing" stories in the press. 2021 and 2022 felt like great years in terms of the job market. 2023 felt horrible.

1. Yes, twice.

1a. My first job laid me off after 10 months, the CEO decided to relocate the company to the Caribbean for a tax break/shelter, which required hiring 70% local people. As the core company was small, the only people retained were the C-level, VPs, and their secretaries. Only 2 of 10 people from my office were retained (and forced to relocate).

1b. My Second job laid me off after 2 months. This small software company had split in two just before my arrival because the two lead programmers did not get along. I was placed with the disagreeable lead, who didn't want me on his team. When a newly degreed former employee, who left on good terms, stopped by one day looking for a job. My boss volunteered my position. The day before layoff I had talked to my leads boss about the good work I had been doing and the next project I would tackle, the next day they laid me off telling me they decided to go a different direction.

2. Yes, negatively. Both times.

3. Kinda some social stigma after the second layoff. I had relocated for both jobs, and didn't have a great support system either place. After the second layoff, recruiters/hiring managers treated me as I was the problem not just some misfortune.

> say something, and leave

So you want me to give up my mid-six figures job so your dates go a little bit better?

I think its fair to say that RTO is not about data, or studies, or about anything really. Leaders across all industries have decided people are coming back. Perhaps there is a secret cabal of commercial office space lenders who are putting pressure as share holders, or some other conspiracy theory. But it's happening - no one can do anything about it (except vote with your feet), and no one is going to get better accommodations in this economy (e.g better offices).

I am in the middle of having to tell a top engineer (and team lead) who was hired remote that they can no longer be remote and need to move to one of our office locations (thousands of miles away of course). Just for the privilege of being on a video call with the PMs who of course don't live in the same city anyway.

Sadly, it's like people running these companies are drawing inspiration from Vladamir Putin and saying "Fuck it - I want people in the office". This may be off topic from the article - but I think leaders are just going to say fuck it - you are coming in or you are getting fired.