Google HR sends warning email to employees, asks them to work from office 3 days a week: Story in 5 points

By Divya Bhati: Google is cracking down on employees who do not come to the office regularly. The company updated its hybrid work policy on Wednesday, now requiring employees to come to the office at least three days a week. The attendance of employees will also be tracked, and those who fail to comply with the new mandates will be confronted.

According to internal memos viewed by CNBC, Google will include employee attendance in their performance reviews. Moreover, reports indicate that employees are now required to come to the physical offices at least three days a week. In an official email to employees, Google’s chief people officer, Fiona Cicconi, mentioned doubling down on office attendance, reasoning that “there’s just no substitute for coming together in person.”

Here is the story in 5 points:

1. Google’s chief people officer, Fiona Cicconi in her email to employees highlighted the importance of hallway conversation in the office. “Of course, not everyone believes in ‘magical hallway conversations,’ but there’s no question that working together in the same room makes a positive difference,” she said. She highlighted that a significant number of the products showcased at recent events like I/O and Google Marketing Live were the direct result of teams working in close proximity.
2. Google has asked remote workers who are located near a Google office to reconsider their work arrangement and transition to a hybrid schedule. “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.” Notably, a separate internal document further revealed that remote workers who have already received approval may undergo reassessment if significant changes occur in business needs, roles, teams, structures, or locations.
3. In the United States, Google plans to monitor employees’ adherence to the office attendance policy by tracking their badge data. Guidelines for other countries are currently under review. If employees consistently violate the policy, the human resources department will contact them to discuss what actions should be taken next. A spokesperson from Google has confirmed that the new hybrid approach of the company aims to combine the advantages of in-person collaboration with the benefits of working from home.
4. The recent policy updates indicate that Google is making a strong push to bring employees back to physical offices. This shift comes after the tech giant initially relaxed remote work plans due to negative feedback. In the past, Google has tried various strategies to encourage employees to return to the office, including arranging concerts, hiring marching bands, and inviting city mayors to celebrate their return.
5. The ongoing crackdown aligns with Google’s efforts to compete in the field of artificial intelligence, where it faces strong competition from companies like Microsoft and OpenAI. To improve its standing in the AI field, Google is implementing various strategies, including preventing the unauthorized sharing of information within the company to safeguard its projects and ideas. However, simultaneously, the company is implementing cost-cutting measures and reducing its physical office spaces. For instance, Google recently halted the construction of its campus in San Jose and is transitioning to a new approach for utilizing its office spaces. Instead of assigning a dedicated desk to each employee, Google is also reportedly encouraging its employees to work in shared workspaces located in their main offices.