Google has asked its employees to return to the office to switch from a remote configuration to a hybrid working formula.
Reuters reports that an internal email has been sent to employees in the San Francisco Bay Area, urging them to find their way back to the offices. According to the email, with treatments for Covid-19 having been developed, vaccines available and the number of cases falling, “we can officially begin the transition to the hybrid workweek”.
In the early stages of the pandemic, countless organizations around the world were forced to quickly implement remote working, a necessary pivot from traditional office organization, due to lockdowns.
The need for these actions, for some, has led employees across many industries to prefer fully remote or hybrid workweeks, in which they spend some days at home and others in the office or in collaborative spaces.
The trade-off of hybrid configurations
A new dilemma then appeared for companies: not taking into account the preferences of its employees and requiring them to work only face-to-face also means taking the risk of losing precious members of its staff, to the benefit of competing companies being more flexible on teleworking.
Hybrid configurations therefore seem to be a satisfactory compromise for a number of companies – at least, for now.
According to the email, starting April 4, Google requires its employees to be in the office approximately three days a week at select locations in the US, UK, and Asia-Pacific. There may be variations depending on the positions, but employees may also request to be relocated.
Reuters reports that the memo also addresses the issue of vaccination status. Google apparently requires its team members to be fully vaccinated, or show proof of exemption. Otherwise, they can apply for an exemption or request to telecommute permanently.
Additionally, staff members who are fully vaccinated will not need to wear masks in Bay Area offices. CNBC reports that some pre-pandemic perks will also be reinstated, including shuttle service and access to fitness centers.
Source: ZDNet.com