Photo by Greg Bulla
Google is making a significant change for its staff this April. Starting on the 4th, employees will be required to work three days per week in some areas of the US and UK as well as Asia Pacific offices; their first move towards ending remote working 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 joins other technology and finance firms that have started ordering a comeback to the office. 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.
The technology company is looking forward to most of its workforce being in offices approximately three days per week with some role variances.
Google’s vice president of global benefits, John Casey, has emailed employees stating that anyone visiting the office should be vaccinated against COVID-19 or possess a verified exemption.
Unvaccinated employees with no exemption, on the other hand, will receive alternatives: get an exemption or put in an application for permanent remote work. Moreover, fully vaccinated employees will not be required to wear masks in Bay Area offices, said Casey.
Google stated that workers not ready to come back on April 4 can request a remote-work extension.
Google did not offer any further information about which other locations will return to normal, leaving employees in those headquarters awaiting formal announcements.
According to Casey, the multinational technology company has given 14,000 workers worldwide the option to go completely remote since last June. However, 15% who applied were rejected.
Google mainly has brought back office perks like free meals, massages, and transit. However, though business guests and meetings are allowed, workers can still not bring families or children with them.
