Return to Office: Bagels, Spreadsheets, and the Productivity Pendulum

After a long hiatus, Frank and Paul are back behind the mics for The Busyness Paradox, and this time they’re diving into one of the most divisive workplace topics of the moment: Return to Office mandates. From federal policies to corporate culture shifts, they explore who’s calling employees back, why some companies are thriving without it, and how different setups affect productivity, mental health, and team dynamics.

Along the way, they detour into:

•Paul’s 18-month spreadsheet project to track Justin Wuntake desk time.

•Whether free bagels count as a legitimate return-to-office perk.

•Why scanning all your home appliance manuals into AI might just change your life.

•Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee’s surprising success story with a fully remote workforce.

•The pendulum swing between remote flexibility and in-person mandates — and where it might land next.

With their usual mix of humor, practical insight, and side quests into AI, textbooks, and podcast improv competitions, this episode is part catch-up, part workplace commentary, and all Busyness Paradox.

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