Children, return to your DESK

One thing I do offline is regularly review my strategy for each of my holdings. That is a C. And I was getting ready to dump DESK, because I bought it too early, and it is kind of flat.

I’ve learned to only dump stocks using a stop loss, because sometimes I’m wrong and it is going the other way. Then I learned to use a trailing stop, because I’m usually pretty sure when things are going to suck (note I did not say usually right, because that would make Pinocchio’s nose grow), but I might be wrong about when.

I digress (what has become my super power, though I don’t think it’s really either) because I probably would have not done any more research (a violation of the L) except that this holding happens to be in an account that doesn’t offer trailing stops and I don’t want to go through the profit (and tax) headaches of changing brokers again (right now). So I did some research, that has led me to set some alerts at $30 and  $40 to review my premises.

Of course, not want to stray to far off the L, I used Perplexity for my research. The short discussion is below, for the interested (and originally took place here, which may be 404 by the time you see this).

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Prompt 1: According to news and social media in the last three months, what is the actual trend of return to office in the United States

Return-to-office (RTO) in the U.S. is trending toward more in-office days and more formal mandates, but the overall equilibrium has settled on hybrid as the dominant long‑term model, not full-time office.[1][2][3]

What’s Actually Happening Overall

• Among remote‑capable U.S. employees, about half are now hybrid (around 51–52%), roughly a quarter are fully remote (26–27%), and about one‑fifth are fully on‑site (21–22%), and that mix has been basically stable for the last couple of years.[4][5][6]
• Hybrid workers are coming in slightly more often (averaging about 2.3 days per week in the office), but there is no large swing back to five days in aggregate.[7]

Company Policies vs. Actual Attendance

• Big, high‑profile employers (Amazon, AT&T, major banks, large media firms) have tightened RTO rules in 2025–2026, with some moving to 3–5 required office days and even full‑time in‑office for many roles.[8][9][10]
• However, studies show that while required office time rose by about 12% from 2024 to 2025, actual office attendance only increased by roughly 1–3%, meaning many employees are quietly non‑compliant.[11]

Survey Data and Employee Preferences

• Surveys consistently show employees strongly favor flexibility: roughly 80%+ of workers say they prefer some form of hybrid over fully on‑site, and Gen Z and Millennials report they are willing to leave jobs over rigid full‑time office requirements.[12][13]
• Engagement and well‑being are highest for hybrid workers in many Gallup measures, and there is no clear productivity or financial performance boost from strict RTO mandates.[14][15][16]

Direction of the Trend (Last 3 Months)

• Over the last few months, headlines have focused on stricter RTO moves by big brands, but large datasets show hybrid rates have “stabilized” and are only drifting slightly (a small dip in hybrid, small increases in both fully on‑site and fully remote).[17][18][19]
• Many organizations are shifting from ad‑hoc rules to more formal, manager‑driven hybrid frameworks (e.g., set anchor days, 2–3 days in office), rather than pushing everyone back five days.[20][21]

Social Media and Narrative vs. Data

• Social media and commentary heavily amplify stories of aggressive RTO mandates, framing them as out of touch and harmful to retention, especially for women and caregivers.[22][23][24]
• At the same time, a visible counter‑narrative from executives stresses culture, innovation, and real‑time collaboration as reasons to pull people back—though studies and many practitioners point out that talent loss and morale issues often outweigh any claimed benefits when policies are rigid.[25][26][27]

Netting it out for the U.S.: the structural trend is “RTO push, hybrid outcome”—more formal pressure to be in the office more often, particularly at large firms, but with the market and worker behavior holding the line around flexible hybrid as the new normal.[28][29][30] [31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38]

Prompt 2: what has been the trend for office space occupancy in the last six months?

Office space occupancy in the U.S. has shown a modest upward trend over the last six months (July 2025–January 2026), with foot traffic and utilization hitting multi-year highs in late 2025 while vacancy rates edged down slightly from peaks.[39][40][41]

Foot Traffic and Utilization Gains

• November 2025 marked the strongest nationwide office occupancy for any November since 2019, with average daily visits 36% below pre-pandemic levels but up year-over-year from 2024.[42]
• Workplace utilization averaged 43% in Q2–Q3 2025 (July–September), peaking at 46% in July and September, with workpoints seeing the biggest gains (up 1 hour daily to 3.8 hours).[43]
• Office attendance reached a post-pandemic high of 80% of pre-2019 levels in July 2025.[44]

Vacancy Rate Trends

Period	National Vacancy Rate	Change Notes
July 2025	~19.4% [45]	High in tech hubs like Austin/Seattle (~27%).
September 2025	18.6% [46][47]	Down 0.8% YoY; first decline in 5+ years.
Q3 2025 (Jul-Sep)	18.8% [48]	Down 20 bps QoQ; prime buildings at 14.2%.
October 2025	18.6% [49][50]	Stable, down 90 bps YoY.

Vacancy has stabilized around 18.5–18.8% nationally, down ~90 bps YoY, with gateway markets (e.g., Manhattan at 13–15%) outperforming tech-heavy areas like San Francisco (26%).[51][52][53]

Leasing and Demand Drivers

• Q3 leasing hit 59.8 million sq ft (above 5-year average), with net absorption at 16 million sq ft—sixth straight positive quarter.[54]
• Demand favors prime/Class A+ buildings, with construction pipeline shrinking to historic lows (16–33 million sq ft under construction).[55][56]
• Financial services and tech sectors led activity, though overall space demand remains bifurcated by quality/location.[57][58]

Outlook and Caveats

The trend points to gradual recovery, driven by hybrid stabilization and RTO mandates, but still far below pre-2020 norms with persistent high vacancy in secondary markets. Regional splits persist: strong in NYC/Miami, weak in West Coast tech hubs.[59][60][61] [62][63][64][65][66][67][68][69][70][71]

[1] https://founderreports.com/return-to-office-statistics/

[2] https://www.hrdive.com/news/gallup-hybrid-work-stabilized-flexibility-key-rto-remote/759477/

[3] https://www.chanty.com/blog/remote-work-statistics/

[4] https://www.hrdive.com/news/gallup-hybrid-work-stabilized-flexibility-key-rto-remote/759477/

[5] https://www.chanty.com/blog/remote-work-statistics/

[6] https://wavecnct.com/blogs/news/hybrid-work-statistics

[7] https://www.hrdive.com/news/gallup-hybrid-work-stabilized-flexibility-key-rto-remote/759477/

[8] https://archieapp.co/blog/return-to-office-statistics/

[9] https://archieapp.co/blog/rto-companies-tracker/

[10] https://founderreports.com/return-to-office-statistics/

[11] https://founderreports.com/return-to-office-statistics/

[12] https://www.chanty.com/blog/remote-work-statistics/

[13] https://wavecnct.com/blogs/news/hybrid-work-statistics

[14] https://www.forbes.com/sites/juliakorn/2025/11/24/how-rigid-return-to-office-mandates-might-cost-you-your-best-talent/

[15] https://www.gallup.com/workplace/694361/hybrid-work-retreat-barely.aspx

[16] https://www.business.pitt.edu/return-to-office-mandates-dont-improve-employee-or-company-performance/

[17] https://www.gallup.com/workplace/694361/hybrid-work-retreat-barely.aspx

[18] https://founderreports.com/return-to-office-statistics/

[19] https://www.hrdive.com/news/gallup-hybrid-work-stabilized-flexibility-key-rto-remote/759477/

[20] https://www.wework.com/ideas/professional-development/whats-been-driving-rto-mandates-in-2025

[21] https://www.hrdive.com/news/gallup-hybrid-work-stabilized-flexibility-key-rto-remote/759477/

[22] https://www.forbes.com/sites/juliakorn/2025/10/16/return-to-office-mandates-are-the-new-glass-ceiling/

[23] https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/return-office-mandates-backfire-joe-procopio-wojfe

[24] https://www.forbes.com/sites/juliakorn/2025/11/24/how-rigid-return-to-office-mandates-might-cost-you-your-best-talent/

[25] https://www.business.pitt.edu/return-to-office-mandates-dont-improve-employee-or-company-performance/

[26] https://www.forbes.com/sites/juliakorn/2025/11/24/how-rigid-return-to-office-mandates-might-cost-you-your-best-talent/

[27] https://www.wework.com/ideas/professional-development/whats-been-driving-rto-mandates-in-2025

[28] https://www.chanty.com/blog/remote-work-statistics/

[29] https://founderreports.com/return-to-office-statistics/

[30] https://www.hrdive.com/news/gallup-hybrid-work-stabilized-flexibility-key-rto-remote/759477/

[31] https://www.craftydelivers.com/october-workplace-insights-2025

[32] https://www.dlapiper.com/en-us/insights/publications/2025/12/global-employment-trends-and-whats-ahead-2025

[33] https://www.accio.com/business/back_to_office_trend

[34] https://www.facebook.com/AlisonCourses/posts/according-to-you-which-workplace-trend-will-rise-in-2026a-full-return-to-officeb/1273550438134015/

[35] https://www.gallup.com/401384/indicator-hybrid-work.aspx

[36] https://www.plantemoran.com/explore-our-thinking/insight/2025/plante-moran-realpoint/navigating-the-return-to-office

[37] https://www.gallup.com/workplace/692675/fully-remote-work-least-popular-gen-z.aspx

[38] https://www.gallup.com/workplace/697904/state-of-the-global-workplace-global-data.aspx

[39] https://www.placer.ai/anchor/articles/placer-ai-november-2025-office-index-post-pandemic-record-occupancy

[40] https://www.cbre.com/insights/figures/q3-2025-us-office-figures

[41] https://www.jll.com/en-us/insights/market-dynamics/us-office

[42] https://www.placer.ai/anchor/articles/placer-ai-november-2025-office-index-post-pandemic-record-occupancy

[43] https://xysense.com/workplace-utilization-index/

[44] https://www.jll.com/en-us/insights/market-dynamics/us-office

[45] https://www.commercialcafe.com/blog/national-office-report/

[46] https://www.commercialsearch.com/news/2025-office-vacancy-update-yardi-matrx/

[47] https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/office-vacancy-rate-city-top-us-markets-2025-don-catalano-ri52c

[48] https://www.cbre.com/insights/figures/q3-2025-us-office-figures

[49] https://www.yardimatrix.com/blog/us-office-market-outlook/

[50] https://allwork.space/2025/11/u-s-office-construction-activity-stalls-as-vacancy-holds-near-record-highs/

[51] https://www.commercialcafe.com/blog/national-office-report/

[52] https://www.cbre.com/insights/figures/q3-2025-us-office-figures

[53] https://www.yardimatrix.com/blog/us-office-market-outlook/

[54] https://www.cbre.com/insights/figures/q3-2025-us-office-figures

[55] https://www.yardimatrix.com/blog/us-office-market-outlook/

[56] https://www.cbre.com/insights/figures/q3-2025-us-office-figures

[57] https://www.naiop.org/research-and-publications/research-reports/reports/office-space-demand-forecast-4q25/

[58] https://www.cbre.com/insights/figures/q3-2025-us-office-figures

[59] https://www.yardimatrix.com/blog/us-office-market-outlook/

[60] https://www.jll.com/en-us/insights/market-dynamics/us-office

[61] https://www.placer.ai/anchor/articles/placer-ai-november-2025-office-index-post-pandemic-record-occupancy

[62] https://www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics/research-reports/july-2025-commercial-real-estate-market-insights

[63] https://www.yardimatrix.com/blog/u-s-office-market-outlook-january-2025/

[64] https://www.nar.realtor/commercial-real-estate-market-insights/october-2025-commercial-real-estate-market-insights

[65] https://www.cushmanwakefield.com/en/united-states/insights/us-marketbeats/us-office-marketbeat-reports

[66] https://www.nmrk.com/insights/market-report/united-states-office-market-overview

[67] https://www.realpage.com/analytics/october-2025-data-update/

[68] https://www.jpmorgan.com/insights/real-estate/commercial-real-estate/midyear-commercial-real-estate-outlook

[69] https://www.pwc.com/us/en/industries/financial-services/asset-wealth-management/real-estate/emerging-trends-in-real-estate-pwc-uli/property-type-outlook/office.html

[70] https://www.facilitiesdive.com/news/us-office-markets-enter-growth-cycle-as-vacancy-rates-decline-jll/802977/

[71] https://archieapp.co/blog/coworking-statistics/