How Google's Revamped 'Work From Anywhere' Policy Gets Staff Back Into The Office

In a post-pandemic world, the question is no longer where it would be best for staff to work for safety, but where staff should be able to work for happiness. As employers say it's time to get back to the office, employees who have transitioned to remote work say they want to retain their newfound freedom to work in places that suit them.

As companies push for a return to the office, employers are receiving a huge amount of pushback from staff. In response, employers need to come up with smart solutions to get staff back to their desks on their own. While many are looking for ways to bring staff back to the office with in-person perks like on-site yoga classes, snack bars, or company-wide happy hours, Google is taking a different approach.

Instead, Google has found a way to get staff back to the office while satisfying their team's desire to work remotely. What Google is doing is attracting staff to the office with its new range of benefits that offer more flexibility and free time.

Google offers "Work from anywhere" time

For Google employees, returning to the office doesn't mean giving up their geographic independence and all the reasons people want to continue working from home. Because Google staff now get four weeks of "work from anywhere," of course, in addition to paid vacation.

This means for staff that while they can still take vacations as they always have, they can also choose to work remotely for up to four weeks a year. This provides great flexibility for its employees who have likely become accustomed to remote work and have built their lives around their ability to work remotely, whether it's because they have an appointment, a trip to make, or a sick child at home.

Now, instead of abandoning the way we've learned to structure our new lives outside of the office, Google staff can still enjoy the autonomy to work where it suits them the best. And while they're limited to four weeks of "work from anywhere," that's not the only time Google staff must work remotely.

Google staff have more balance with a hybrid working model

Google is also adopting a hybrid work model where most employees have the option to work remotely two days a week. This strikes a balance between working in the office and working from home, while avoiding the potential initial shock of returning to the office five days a week.

In fact, a study by the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR) found that the hybrid working model with two days at home per week is preferred by the employee medium.

Google's hybrid work model provides a convenient compromise between working in the office and working from home. In turn, this suits both employees who prefer working remotely and management who prefers an in-person team. This helps staff work where they feel most comfortable, while fostering professional relationships and maintaining a team environment that happens much more naturally in person than online.

Staff enjoy their free time collectively

In addition, Google also uses a very effective and incredibly simple method to give staff more freedom in which they want. And that's with "Global Reset Days" that serve as company-wide days off for "collective welfare" purposes, according to CNBC.

Just like having a holiday, there is no need to request a day off or put it on your calendar. Employees can enjoy their day without worrying about missing out or falling behind. And perhaps best of all, "Global Reset/Wellness Days" don't eat away at paid time o...