# Google mandates workers back to Silicon Valley, other offices from April 4
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2022-03-03
Category: BUSINESS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/business
Meta Title: Google mandates 3-day office return amid end to remote work
Meta Description: Google announces plan to transition to a hybrid work week, with most employees expected in offices three days a week. Vaccination mandatory for in-person work.
URL: https://financedigest.com/google-mandates-workers-back-to-silicon-valley-other-offices-from-april-4html

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By Paresh Dave

OAKLAND, Calif. (Reuters) – Alphabet Inc’s 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](https://www.financedigest.com/shoring-up-cyber-defences-in-the-remote-working-era.html "Shoring up cyber defences in the remote working era") 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](https://www.financedigest.com/daimler-truck-sees-higher-returns-as-supply-chains-demand-improve.html "Daimler Truck sees higher returns as supply chains, demand improve") safety measures we have implemented … now mean we can [officially begin the transition to the hybrid work](https://www.financedigest.com/eu-us-working-on-deal-to-make-ev-minerals-eligible-for-tax-credits-eu-official.html "EU, US working on deal to make EV minerals eligible for tax credits -EU official") week.

Google joins a wave of technology and finance [companies that have begun mandating a return to office](https://www.financedigest.com/hundreds-of-tyson-foods-employees-to-depart-as-company-closes-offices-wsj.html "Hundreds of Tyson Foods employees to depart as company closes offices – WSJ"). While some big employers have embraced voluntary work-from-home policies permanently, others including [Google](https://www.financedigest.com/google-lays-off-staff-at-its-mapping-app-waze-2.html) are betting that it is best to push in-person interactions among colleagues.

[Google expects most employees will be in offices](https://www.financedigest.com/microsoft-unveils-ai-office-copilot-in-fast-moving-race-with-google.html "Microsoft unveils AI office copilot in fast-moving race with Google") about three days a week, with some variance by team and role.

Everyone coming to the office must be fully [vaccinated against COVID-19](https://www.financedigest.com/factbox-countries-making-covid-19-vaccines-mandatory-2.html "Factbox-Countries making COVID-19 vaccines mandatory") 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](https://www.financedigest.com/1-in-5-uk-workers-believe-there-is-a-gender-divide-with-work-uniforms.html " 1 in 5 UK workers believe there is a gender divide with work uniforms").

Fully vaccinated [workers will not have to wear masks in Bay Area offices](https://www.financedigest.com/office-workers-waste-more-time-on-slow-tech-than-they-spend-on-holiday.html "Office Workers Waste More Time on Slow Tech Than They Spend on Holiday"), Casey said.

Google declined to specify the other locations [returning to normal](https://www.financedigest.com/final-salary-pensions-at-risk-due-to-new-normal-of-sluggish-economy-and-low-returns.html "Final salary pensions at risk due to ‘New Normal’ of sluggish economy and low returns") on April 4, pending formal announcements to workers at those sites.

Employees not prepared to [return April 4 also can seek](https://www.financedigest.com/investors-seek-higher-returns-as-catastrophe-bond-issuance-slows-during-q2-according-to-aon-study.html "INVESTORS SEEK HIGHER RETURNS AS CATASTROPHE BOND ISSUANCE SLOWS DURING Q2, ACCORDING TO AON STUDY") 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](https://www.financedigest.com/how-to-protect-your-employees-mental-health-while-remote-working.html "How to protect your employees’ mental health while remote working"), 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](https://www.financedigest.com/uncertainty-driving-job-security-and-financial-security-worries.html) cannot yet [bring back](https://www.financedigest.com/trump-charges-bring-new-york-zombie-case-back-to-life.html "Trump charges bring New York ‘zombie case’ back to life") families or children to dine or visit with them.

(Reporting by Paresh Dave; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Bernard Orr)


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