Google announced today that it is extending its voluntary return-to-office timeframe until January 10, 2022.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has been a humbling challenge for all of us and I continue to be impressed by the way our teams are navigating through it,” Google CEO Sundar Pichai wrote in an email to employees. “In spite of these challenges, I’m happy to say that a large number of offices globally are already open for business, and we are welcoming back tens of thousands of Googlers on a voluntary basis.”

However, given recent uncertainties, including the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus, Google is taking additional steps to keep its employees safe, key among them the new return-to-work date. After January 10, Google will allow its regional locations to determine when to end the voluntary work-from-home program based on local conditions. And the online giant is planning two “global rest days” on October 22 and December 17 to give employees some time to recharge.

“The road ahead may be a little longer and bumpier than we hoped, yet I remain optimistic that we will get through it together,” Mr. Pichai’s email concludes. “It’s heartening to see Googlers starting to come back to more offices globally. The ability to reconnect in person has been re-energizing for many of us, and will make us even more effective in the weeks and months ahead. Thanks for all the great work thus far; look forward to a busy Q4 as we continue to find new ways to be helpful to people everywhere.”

Tagged with COVID-19