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Ultimatum to Google Employees Working Remotely in US: 'Come to Office or Leave'

Google's units enforcing this hybrid work mandate and relocation policy include Google Technical Services, Human Resources (also known as People Operations), and the Platforms & Devices group

Some divisions of the American tech giant Google have reportedly issued an ultimatum to employees still following pandemic-era remote work arrangements: return to the office at least three days a week or accept a voluntary exit package. The company has asked its U.S.-based workers to relocate within 50 miles of a Google office starting in June.

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According to a report by CNBC, teams enforcing this hybrid work mandate and relocation policy include Google Technical Services, Human Resources (also known as People Operations), and the Platforms & Devices group. The report, citing internal memos, says the move is aimed at fostering innovation and collaboration through increased in-person interaction.

A company spokesperson told CNBC that the policy is not yet universal across Google but is being implemented on a team-by-team basis.

“As we’ve said before, in-person collaboration is an important part of how we innovate and solve complex problems. To support this, some teams have asked remote employees who live near an office to return to in-person work three days a week,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

What Google Units Are Demanding

According to CNBC, employees in Google Technical Services must either switch to a hybrid work schedule or accept a voluntary separation package. Those working remotely in this unit are being offered a one-time relocation benefit if they move within 50 miles of a Google office.

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In the People Operations division—Google’s human resources team—employees living within 50 miles of an office must begin hybrid work this month or face termination. Employees approved for remote work who live more than 50 miles from any office may continue working remotely, but will need to switch to a hybrid schedule if they apply for new roles within the company.

Consequences of Opting for Remote Work

Back in March, Google introduced a voluntary exit program for full-time U.S.-based employees in People Operations, following a February memo from HR chief Fiona Cicconi.

This followed a similar announcement in January, when the company said it would offer voluntary separation packages to staff in the Platforms and Devices group, which includes Android, Chrome, Fitbit, and Nest. Nearly two dozen teams in this unit have faced job cuts as of this month. While remote work was mentioned in internal communications, the company clarified that it wasn’t the main reason for the layoffs.

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About a year ago, Google merged its Android and hardware teams under the leadership of Senior Vice President Rick Osterloh. In January, Osterloh said the voluntary exit option might be suitable for employees struggling to adjust to the hybrid model.

In February, Google co-founder Sergey Brin urged AI teams to return to the office full-time, suggesting that a 60-hour workweek represents the “sweet spot of productivity.” Brin emphasized the need to "turbocharge" Google's efforts to remain competitive in the fast-moving AI sector.

Following major layoffs in early 2023, Google has continued to implement targeted staff reductions. By the end of last year, the company’s workforce had declined to about 183,000, down from roughly 190,000 two years earlier.

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