Update: got hit with anchor days and I negotiated like you all suggested
Follow-up because a few weeks ago I was freaking out after getting the "we want everyone in person X days" vibe from my manager. I am a college student in Texas and I had rearranged my class schedule because this role was remote.
Quick update: it was not a formal RTO email, but my team is being told about "anchor days." The initial ask was three days a week in the office starting next month, with a lot of vague talk about "collaboration."
I took the advice I saw here and treated it like a negotiation instead of a fight.
What I did:
Asked for the business reason in writing and what problem they were trying to solve.
Came back with a proposal: one day per week on-site for the specific meetings that actually benefit from it, plus a 30 day trial with measurable outcomes.
Listed my hard constraints (class schedule, commute time) without oversharing or getting emotional.
Result: they agreed to one fixed day per week for my team, and the rest of the time stays remote for now. The key was I did not say "I cannot" as a threat. I said, "Here is what I can commit to and how we will know it is working."
I know this is not permanent and they could tighten things later, but it bought me time and kept me from making an impulsive decision.
For people who have seen the slow creep: what early signs tipped you off that anchor days were going to turn into full RTO, and what did you do next?