While I expect most to begrudgingly return for licenses/recency, I can imagine many families staying at home this time.
Who wants to go through all this hassle twice again (there and back)?
With the family away, and commuting barely feasible - the horizon shrinks.
The company have burnt bridges. If they had chosen to look after their employees through covid, they would have earned so much respect, loyalty and good will.
Instead, when the industry picks up, churn rate will be huge as people enact their revenge; taking their turn to gleefully stick two fingers up at them.
People are hurt. People want closure on their terms, not the companies.
The ME just wont ever feel like home again.