Google is updating its Work From Anywhere (WFA) policy, making a significant change that even a single day of remote work will now count as a full week. Previously, employees could use WFA to work from a different city or state for up to four weeks a year without such strict counting.
Introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, WFA was always separate from Google’s standard hybrid schedule, which allows employees to work from home two days per week. The updated rules clarify that WFA is not intended for working from home or nearby locations – it’s meant only for working from a distant city, state, or country.
Employees must also follow local business hours when working from another state or country, due to legal and financial requirements. Violating these rules could lead to disciplinary actions, including possible termination. However, the policy doesn’t apply to certain roles, such as data center employees or staff who must be physically present in the office.
This move comes amid a broader trend in the tech industry to bring employees back to the office. Microsoft recently required employees to be in the office three days a week, while Amazon mandates five days in-office for corporate staff. Google has also offered voluntary buyouts and cautioned that non-compliance with hybrid rules could result in layoffs.
The policy change has caused some confusion internally. During a recent all-hands meeting, employees asked why one day counts as a full week and whether WFA restrictions could be eased. John Casey, Google’s vice president of performance and rewards, explained that WFA was always designed to be taken in week-long blocks and not as a replacement for working from home.
(Tamil Craze)
