I don’t think any of this has to due with productivity, collaboration, or whatever corporate says.

Google (and Apple, and Facebook, and no doubt many others) have spent literally billions of dollars on real estate right before the pandemic. If people don’t fill those buildings, they’re going to look foolish.

That’s it.

It reminds me of when corporate says they need special employee shuttles instead of lowering costs by a shared shuttle. “We encourage collaborative conversations on the shuttles.” I’ve ridden them. No one speaks. It’s also not due to secrecy, otherwise they wouldn’t want employees to work on public transit.