Google , employees will be able to return to some offices in the US, UK and elsewhere. Employees will be in the office three days a week, as part of a new hybrid work model.
See also: Google Pixel Watch & Pixel 6a: Preparing to make their debut
An internal email seen by Reuters on Wednesday told Bay Area : “The progress in prevention and treatment, the steady decline in cases we continue to see, and the enhanced safety measures we have implemented… now indicate that we can officially begin the transition to a hybrid workweek.”
Several other tech companies (beyond Google) have begun asking employees to return to their office duties. While some employers have adopted work-from-home policies, others, including Google, are betting that it's best to promote in-person interactions between colleagues.
See also: Epic games: Hires thousands of employees for full-time employment
Google estimates that most employees will be in the office about three days a week, although there may be some variation depending on each employee's role in the company.
The email sent to employees states that everyone coming into the office must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have received an official exemption. Unvaccinated employees will have the option to apply for permanent remote work.
As we said earlier, Google has relaxed its COVID-19 measures a bit , so fully vaccinated employees will not need to wear masks in the Bay Area offices (unless otherwise ordered by the authorities).
Google declined to specify which other locations will return to normal operation on April 4. Official announcements will come in the coming days.
Employees who are not ready to return on April 4 can seek an extension of remote work, Google said.
See also: Google Play system update March 2022: What are the new features?
Since last June, Google has allowed nearly 14,000 employees worldwide to relocate to a new location or work permanently from home.
Google has largely restored office perks like free meals, massages, and transportation. However, while business visitors and meetings are allowed, employees still can't bring their families and children for meals or just a visit.
Source: Reuters
