https://www.reuters.com/technology/google-mandates-workers-back-silicon-valley-other-offices-april-4-2022-03-02/

 
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March 2, 20228:50 PM UTCLast Updated ago

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    Technology

Google mandates workers back to Silicon Valley, other offices from
April 4

By Paresh Dave

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2 minute read
The logo for Google LLC is seen at their offices in Manhattan, New
York City

The logo for Google LLC is seen at their office in Manhattan, New
York City, New York, U.S., November 17, 2021. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

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OAKLAND, Calif., March 2 (Reuters) - Alphabet Inc's (GOOGL.O) Google
from April 4 will require employees back about three days a week in
some of its U.S., U.K. and Asia Pacific offices, its first step to
end policies that allowed remote work because of COVID-19 concerns.

An internal email on Wednesday seen by Reuters told employees 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 work week."

Google joins a wave of technology and finance companies that have
begun mandating a return to office. While some big employers have
embraced voluntary work-from-home policies permanently, others
including Google are betting that it is best to push in-person
interactions among colleagues.

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Google expects most employees will be in offices about three days a
week, with some variance by team and role.

Everyone coming to the office must be fully vaccinated against
COVID-19 or have an approved exemption, according to the email from
John Casey, Google's vice president of global benefits. Unvaccinated
workers without an exemption will be given an option to seek one or
apply for permanent remote work.

Fully vaccinated workers will not have to wear masks in Bay Area
offices, Casey said.

Google declined to specify the other locations returning to normal on
April 4, pending formal announcements to workers at those sites.

Employees not prepared to return April 4 also can seek a remote-work
extension, Google said.

Since last June, Google has approved nearly 14,000 employees globally
to transfer to a new location or go fully remote, Casey said. About
15% of applications have been denied, he added.

Google largely has restored office perks such as free meals, massages
and transit. But while business visitors and meetings are permitted,
employees cannot yet bring back families or children to dine or visit
with them.

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Reporting by Paresh Dave Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Bernard Orr

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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