Big corps have programmed the American workforce to practically drop dead on the job or someone else will. It has trickled down to small bizz over the years. Work life balance barely existed pre covid and while it is changing, too many corps are slow to give up oversight. If an employee’s production dropped WFH is not because they are WFH, it’s because they weren’t productive in the first place but you can never quantify their office productivity if they look like they are working. There was a girl at my previous job who spent more than half her day away from her desk chatting but hey, she was in the office. Productive/honest/loyal employees will excel anywhere but if you give them more work life balance WFH and they will crush it. I find myself working more WFH actually. Kids pass out and I jump on for an hour. If I’m in the office I’m out at 430 to pick up the kids by 6. WFH, I’m on until about 515/530 because I don’t have the agonizing 1hr drive home to get them. I’m less stressed, more motviated, and generally happier WFH. All of our friends say the same. Companies are foolish if they aren’t adapting, the best talent will go elsewhere.