Ah, gotta love malicious compliance.
@davidaugust
What management meant was that working from home wasn't included in their weekly in-office requirement, and this employer has decided that forty hours must be done on-premises. I've talked with employers like that; one stated that for the first six months they expected 100% in-office work, and after six months would allow one day as WFH.
Like most employers, this employer probably still expects extra hours above and beyond the 40 hours in the office, sadly.
Justified or not, "VeryLargeMuffin" has likely dug their grave at their current employer, taking a huge gamble about their future at their current employer, because management almost always expects people to go above and beyond, and malicious compliance, while justified, will draw revenge, if not now, when raises and bonuses are determined.
@DaLanShark oh yes, malicious compliance usually has to be followed up almost simultaneously with finding a new position elsewhere. This employer is likely not long for the world as they will eventually alienate everyone capable of doing the work they want done.