As Mumbai's local trains groan under the weight of millions of daily commuters, many crammed like sardines into overcrowded compartments, a curious phenomenon emerges: CEOs of some of the city's leading companies are urging their employees to return to the office. These same CEOs, however, often speed past the gridlocked traffic in luxury cars, completely insulated from the daily struggles of their workforce.

While advocating for the benefits of in-person collaboration and company culture, these executives rarely acknowledge the harsh realities of their employees' commutes. Hours spent crammed into trains, battling for space and battling for breath, eat away at personal time and productivity. The stress of commuting translates into exhaustion, affecting morale and potentially impacting work performance.

The hypocrisy of CEOs advocating against WFH while enjoying the comfort of their own private transportation is glaring. It highlights a disconnect between the executives and the everyday lives of their employees. This disconnect raises questions about the genuine motivations behind the push for a return to office culture.

Is it truly about improved collaboration and productivity, or is it about maintaining a sense of control and hierarchy? Is it about fostering a company culture that benefits the employees, or one that reinforces the power dynamics of the organization?

There should be a mandate asking CEOs who call employees to offices to travel by public transport themselves, especially during monsoons. Don't you think so too?