Google moves to get more employees back into the office

Google’s hybrid work policy has been revised to mandate that employees return to work onsite at least three times a week.

This will reportedly be enforced via tracking office badge attendance and sending reminders to employees who do not meet the attendance requirements, with these aspects to be included in the performance reviews of employees.

In an email to employees, Fiona Cicconi, Google’s Chief People Officer, highlighted the positive difference of teams working together in the same room in comparison to remote work, and added, “Many of the products we unveiled at I/O and Google Marketing Live last month were conceived, developed and built by teams working side by side.”

While employees who have already been approved for remote work can continue to work the same way as before, Cicconi has already implored them to reconsider their options.

“For those who are remote and who live near a Google office, we hope you’ll consider switching to a hybrid work schedule. Our offices are where you’ll be most connected to Google’s community,” she said. Remote employees might be called upon to return to the office at any point, said Google, and any new employees who wish to work remotely will only be granted permission “by exception only.”

READ: Return to office and “work from anywhere”, Google tells employees

This new stringent policy comes in the midst of an artificial intelligence (AI) arms race amongst rivals like Microsoft and OpenAI, attempts by Google to reduce leaks about new programmes and products being released, as well as cost-cutting measures implemented by the company, reported CNBC.