Google changes Work From Home Policy

Google will not bring its 200,000 employees back to the office until July 2021, pushing past its January deadline as coronavirus cases increase worldwide and a vaccine remains months away.

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This makes Alphabet, the parent company of Google, the first major U.S. corporation to move their office return into the second half of next year. The announcement was confirmed by Google spokesperson Jason Post on Monday.

The decision to extend its remote work policy well into next year suggests that one of the world’s largest tech companies is preparing for a long pandemic — and could encourage other companies to take a similar decision.

Chief Executive Sundar Pichai revealed, in a company-wide email, the new timetable that would “give employees the opportunity to plan ahead.”

Pichai took the call last week. According to reports, he was partly influenced by the diverse opinions regarding the reopening of schools around the U.S.

The work-from-home option applies to 200,000 full-time and contract staff attached to the company’s headquarters in California as well as offices in other parts of the United States, UK and India.

The organization has previously said employees with special requirements, such as those taking care of family members will be given more time to return when offices are reopened.
Google’s move could inspire other companies to reevaluate their timelines, especially as the number of reported cases of novel coronavirus, hospitalizations and deaths continue to grow worldwide.

Although other big tech companies, including Amazon and Apple, have asked employees to come back in January 2021, this is likely to be pushed into the year.

Meanwhile, Twitter made headlines in May when it stated that, even after the threat of pandemic subsidies, workers could work from home “forever” if they wish so. Soon thereafter, Facebook also announced that eligible employees can request a permanent remote work arrangement. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg also added that he expects half of the company to continue to work remotely over the next five to ten years.

Silicon Valley has implemented different approaches to reduce health risks for its employees. Remote work was widely adopted in March, and many of them have had plans to reopen offices in January 2021.

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