Google has asked its employees, across some of the offices in the U.S., U.K. and the Asia Pacific regions to join back offices from April 4 onwards. Initially, the company will require them to work for only three days a week from the office. 

According to a report by Reuters, an internal mail was sent to all employees which read, “advances in prevention and treatment, the steady decline in cases we continue to see and the improved safety measures we have implemented ... now mean we can officially begin the transition to the hybrid workweek."

Along with the mandate, the company has also laid down a few guidelines for those who would be joining the offices. Google has mandated vaccination against COVID-19 or employees must “have an approved exemption,” according to the email from John Casey, Google's vice president of global benefits. Unvaccinated workers without an exemption will be given an option to seek one or apply for permanent remote work.

To the relief of many, fully vaccinated workers will not have to wear masks in Bay Area offices, Casey said. Google declined to specify the other locations returning to normal on April 4, pending formal announcements to workers at those sites.

To ensure a ‘happy’ work environment at the offices, Google has also restored office perks such as free meals, massages and transit. But while business visitors and meetings are permitted, employees cannot yet bring back families or children to dine or visit with them.