A new boss wanted employees back in the office five days a week. So they all resigned.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, several workplaces decided to shutter their physical workspaces and encourage work-from-home setups. As the coronavirus situation seemingly eases up, some workplaces are urging employees to return to office. While certain companies have offered hybrid situations, that is, a combination of work-from-home and work-from-office throughout the week, others have remained closed. Earlier this week, however, a Twitter user shared that their workplace hired a new manager who informed the company's employees that they would be expected to return to the office five days a week. Soon enough, the resignation letters came flying in. The tweet has since sparked a debate about returning to physical workplaces.

"Got a new manager at work and he said he does not believe in working from home and wants the office back in five days a week from Monday," Twitter user DontAtttttMe posted. "I never seen so many resignation letters in my life." The post instantly went viral on the platform. Since it was first posted, it has been retweeted over 28,000 times. It has also received almost 370,000 likes. Responding to the tweet, fellow Twitter users offered explanations as to why companies may be forcing employees to return to work.

"Companies committed to, in some cases, five [to] 10-year leases on offices in the city," one user shared. "You mark my words, THAT'S the biggest reason they are against you working from home. They cannot afford to come out of their leases." Another user suggested, "He probably did all that on purpose, to get his own people in." "This is just a control thing, nothing else," another individual stated. Meanwhile, some users decided to share their own experiences with being asked to physically return to the workplace. (Spoiler alert: their managers received a bunch of resignation letters as well.)

"This [is] why my current job is losing employees and cannot] retain the new hires either," one Twitter user from Miami commented. "Nobody wants to work in [the] office when [the] majority of the ppl are coming from For Lauderdale. That is an expensive commute to downtown Miami. But they rather pay rent than let people work remote." Another person shared, "My job wants people back in the office but they are giving people the option to work hybrid (minimum two days a week) and they throw happy hours after work (sometimes hire a DJ). Your manager is on a power trip."

A few folks did point out why work-from-home may not be the best situation for everyone. "We will mostly all go back to the office," one individual shared, for instance. "Employees who now love it will hate it as the lines between work and home get blurrier. You will be working all day before u know it. And yes, it is about control as it always [has] been when it comes to employment. You are not an independent contractor." Nonetheless, most agreed that flexibility is key. One user affirmed, "It is about control. Why not allow people flexibility? People save gas, money, and time. There is less absenteeism, and productivity because people feel refreshed and ready to put more into the job. Forcing people back to an office for a job they can do remotely is just stup*d."