I quit my job because of an RTO mandate. I never want to work in an office again.

• Jennifer Oliva quit her job after a return-to-office mandate in Fall 2021.
• She had worked remotely since March 2020 and found a much better work-life balance.
• Control over her schedule became a priority and now she runs her own publicity firm.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jennifer Oliva, a 54-year-old who quit her job after receiving an RTO mandate. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I spent almost 25 years working as a network television producer in New York City and Washington, DC. I loved my job, and even though it often involved long hours, it was thrilling.