Google Reportedly Tightens Its Office Attendance Policies

Google is reportedly preparing to take action against employees who have not maintained consistent attendance at its offices. For over a year, Google has requested its workers to be present at the office three days a week, offering incentives such as complimentary food and other perks. However, the company is now said to be adopting a more stringent approach.

According to separate reports from different outlets, including The Verge, CNBC, and the Wall Street Journal, which cited internal memos obtained by them, on Wednesday, the company announced an update to its hybrid work policy, which now involves monitoring office badge attendance, addressing employees who fail to adhere to their scheduled office presence, and using attendance records into employees' performance evaluations.

Fiona Cicconi, Google's chief people officer, reportedly sent an email to employees emphasizing the importance of office attendance and stating that "there’s just no substitute for coming together in person."

"We’ve heard from Googlers that those who spend at least three days a week in the office feel more connected to other Googlers, and that this effect is magnified when teammates work from the same location," Cicconi allegedly wrote. "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."

In her message, Fiona Cicconi mentioned that the company will now incorporate employees' three days per week office attendance into their performance reviews. Teams will also begin sending reminders to workers who display consistent absence from the office.

Additionally, Cicconi urged remote workers who had already received approval to reconsider their decision and added that the company will now treat new requests to work remotely full-time as exceptions, considering them on a case-by-case basis.

"We know that a number of people moved to fully remote work for many good reasons, as we all adjusted to the pandemic. 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 wrote. "Going forward, we’ll consider new remote work requests by exception only."

According to a separate internal document, remote workers who have already been approved may also undergo re-evaluation if the company identifies "material changes in business need, role, team, structure or location."

An increasing number of companies, including Amazon and Activision Blizzard, have started urging their employees to return to physical offices, highlighting the advantages of in-person collaboration. These directives have occasionally faced resistance from employees who had become accustomed to greater flexibility in their working conditions during the pandemic.

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