Five years after the initial COVID-19 pandemic upheaval, Google is making waves with a new policy impacting its remote workforce. Some remote employees are being told to return to the office three days a week or face job losses. This move comes as Google, along with many tech giants, is navigating cost-cutting measures while simultaneously investing heavily in artificial intelligence. Internal documents obtained by CNBC reveal that several Google units have issued these ultimatums, even to employees previously approved for full-time remote work.
The tech industry’s initial embrace of remote work during the pandemic is now being reevaluated. Many companies are tightening their remote work policies, leaving employees who relocated to reconsider their situations. This shift is particularly noticeable in the tech sector, which saw a dramatic increase in remote work arrangements in 2020, leaving a lingering impact on commercial real estate markets like San Francisco’s.
Google’s actions are multifaceted. The company began offering voluntary buyouts to some U.S. employees earlier in 2025. However, for some remote workers, the buyout is the only option if they refuse the mandatory return-to-office policy. This move comes at a time when Google is focusing on streamlining costs and pouring significant resources into AI development, which requires substantial investment in infrastructure and talent.
This isn’t the first time Google has implemented workforce reductions. Following widespread layoffs in early 2023, the company has continued to make targeted cuts across different teams, highlighting their commitment to AI advancement. Google’s employee count has decreased from approximately 190,000 two years ago to around 183,000 by the end of 2024.
Adding another layer of complexity, Google co-founder Sergey Brin reportedly urged AI employees to work in the office five days a week, suggesting that 60 hours a week is optimal for productivity. This internal memo underscores the pressure to compete in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. While Google’s spokesperson, Courtenay Mencini, claims these decisions are team-specific and not a company-wide policy, the impact on affected employees remains significant.
Specific examples highlight the severity of the situation. Employees in Google Technical Services face a choice between a hybrid work schedule or a voluntary exit package. A similar mandate has been issued to remote workers in Human Resources (People Operations), with those within 50 miles of an office required to adopt a hybrid model or risk job termination. Employees further than 50 miles away may maintain their remote status, but hybrid work will be required for any future roles within the company. This follows previous voluntary exit programs offered to employees in People Operations and the Platforms and Devices group, which includes Android, Chrome, Fitbit, and Nest.
While Google maintains that remote work wasn’t the primary factor in previous layoffs, the confluence of these events raises questions about the future of remote work at the company and within the tech industry as a whole. The company’s emphasis on in-person collaboration and the pressure to compete in the AI race are clearly driving this shift in policy, leaving many employees to grapple with the implications.
