“The argument has been that you employ consultants and commercial providers to do this sort of work based on the fact they have skills you don’t, but had it not been for the fact we’ve lost so many skills we wouldn’t have needed to do that.”
This. How can companies/governments still think that you can "outsource" IT, when technology is not only tightly integrated into the fabric of what a modern company is, but nowadays a solid technology capability sets the high performers apart from the laggards. It's just as ludicrous as outsourcing the HR, sales team or the executive office.
Unfortunately unlike in the real world where these companies will become uncompetitive and dissolve, we are stuck with our government and their outdated operating models...
For software engineering, anecdotally the companies pushing for 100% in office are the more traditional enterprise organisations, that haven't embraced technology and agile practices.
While remuneration might be similar, there is a lot of red tape and working people willing to put up with bureaucracy are generally not as passionate and therefore try and palm off work or engage in politics.
I agree in principle that 100% in office roles are a red flag and not worth the hassle.
Why wouldn't a simpler explanation be that the wires produce a radio/electromagnetic wave and that wave gets picked up and induces a current, which is how radio transmitters receivers work?