As it prepares to bring workers back to the office, it is dropping some Covid-related mandates for employees and restoring perks back to its headquarters.
In an email to San Francisco Bay Area employees this week, David Radcliffe, VP of workplace services at Google, explained that the company is relaxing some rules around vaccines, testing, and masks. The company has reversed course and will not require vaccinations as a condition of employment for U.S. workers, according to a CNBC report.
The perks such as massages and access to informal spaces in the office will be returning. During the Pandemic, many of the fun office amenities that were available to talent were suspended.
As the company prepares to require most employees to come into physical offices at least three days a week for a hybrid work model, other Bay Area tech companies are offering fully remote work options. There have been times when the office return has been delayed due to various Covid-19 variant surge.
It has been almost two years since tech companies sent their employees home at the start of the Pandemic. The labor market has tightened, employees have complained about missing perks, and workers want to remain working remotely.
The testing requirement for employees in the Bay Area was lifted in January.
In addition, Google is dropping its social distance requirement and masks for vaccine employees in most areas, as the few cities still requiring masks are likely to drop them soon.
According to Lora Lee Erickson, the requirement for vaccine for U.S. employees is being reversed. CNBC reported in November that the company told employees they would lose their jobs if they didn't comply with vaccine policies.
The requirement for employment was dropped last month after the company removed the January deadline for employees to get vaccine or exemption approval. She didn't give any details on the policy or why it was reversed.
Unvaccinated employees who are approved to enter offices will need to follow additional protocols, including testing and wearing a mask.
The health and safety of the workforce is prioritized by the local guidelines, according to the statement.
All informal spaces, such as lounges, game rooms, music rooms, and free breakfast and lunch, will be opened by the company.
The office experience will be similar to what it was before Covid.
In-person business meetings and events are ramping back up.
We're giving employees who want to come into the office the option to do that wherever we safely can, while allowing those who aren't ready to keep working from home.
The San Francisco Bay Area has the highest concentration of Google offices, with dozens of buildings across several cities in the region, including its Mountain View headquarters.
The company hasn't decided a new date for the mandated return since it last pushed it off. If conditions continue to improve, it will begin its transition period to the hybrid work week. He said his team is planning celebrations to welcome back employees.
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