Remote, but only if you live nearby

Two postings this week said “fully remote” yet required being within 25 miles for “occasional collaboration days” — defined as 2–3 days a week at 9 a.m. in the office. Is this just the new hybrid rebrand, or is there a real rationale for the 25‑mile cutoff I’m not seeing?

‌⁠‍⁠​‍​‍‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‌⁠‌⁠​​‌‍‍‍​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍⁠​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍⁠‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌​‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠​​‌‍‍‌‌‍​⁠​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍⁠‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠‌⁠​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠‌‌​⁠​‌​⁠​‍​⁠​‍​⁠​‍​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌​⁠‍‌​‍⁠‌‍​⁠‌⁠​⁠​⁠​‌‌​​‍​⁠‌‍‌​‍‌​⁠‍‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‍⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‍​‌‍‍⁠‌​‍‍‌‌‌‍​‍​‍‌⁠⁠‌​​