Google Orders Workers to Return to Offices

Photo by Greg Bulla

The day of a new start, April 4, will mark a change for Google as it mandates its employees to report three days per week in several offices. Its first move to end policies that allowed remote work due to COVID-19 concerns. 

On Wednesday, an internal email ordered workers in the San Francisco Bay Area that “advances in prevention and treatment, the steady decline in cases we continue to see and the improved safety measures we have implemented … now mean we can officially begin the transition to the hybrid workweek.” 

Google is one of many companies that have started ordering a comeback to offices. Although a few big companies have accepted the set-up of voluntary work-from-home policies permanently, several others, such as Google, are certain that it is most fitting to order in-person interactivity between co-workers. 

With a few variances, the majority of workers will be in offices approximately three days per week.

John Casey, the vice president of global benefits at Google, has sent out an email stressing that anyone who comes into the office should be fully vaccinated or possess a verified exemption. 

On the other hand, unvaccinated employees with no exemption will receive alternatives: seek verified exemption or put in an application for permanent remote work. Furthermore, according to Casey, fully vaccinated employees will not have to wear masks in the Bay Area offices.

Google also said that workers not ready to come back on April 4th can request a remote-work extension. 

Google did not provide any information on when other locations will return to normal, leaving employees in those headquarters awaiting formal announcements.

Since last June, the multinational technology company has allowed 14,000 workers worldwide to transfer to a new location or go completely remote. However, Casey said about 15% of those who applied have been rejected.

Google has brought back office perks like free meals, massages and transit. However, while business guests and meetings are permitted, employees cannot bring their families or children into the workspace.