Five years after the Covid pandemic began, Google is now asking some remote workers to return to the office at least three days a week, or they risk losing their jobs. This is part of the company’s effort to cut costs, as it faces competition in the rapidly growing artificial intelligence (AI) sector.
Some employees, who were previously allowed to work from home, have been told their jobs might be at risk if they don’t agree to a hybrid work schedule, which means working both remotely and in the office. This is part of a larger trend across companies, especially in the tech industry, where remote work is becoming less common after many companies offered flexible working arrangements during the pandemic.
In early 2025, Google began offering voluntary buyouts to its U.S. employees, and some remote workers were told that taking the buyout would be their only option if they didn’t return to the office at least three days a week.
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Google, like many tech companies, is making these changes as it invests heavily in AI, which requires significant spending on technology and skilled workers. In the past, Google laid off many workers in 2023, and now, as part of its cost-cutting efforts, it is reducing jobs in various departments.
Sergey Brin, one of Google’s co-founders, recently told employees working in AI that they should come to the office every weekday, saying that working 60 hours a week was the ideal for productivity. Google is focusing on improving its AI efforts to stay ahead in the competitive market.
Google’s spokesperson, Courtenay Mencini, explained that the decision to require remote workers to return to the office is not a company-wide rule but depends on the specific team. Some teams have asked workers living near an office to come back to the office three days a week.
For example, workers in Google’s Technical Services and People Operations teams who live within 50 miles of an office have been told they must either return to the office or accept a voluntary exit package. If they don’t return by June, their roles will be eliminated. Employees who live farther away from an office can continue working remotely but must work in a hybrid schedule if they want a new role at Google.
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Google’s decision to encourage employees to return to the office is part of a broader effort to become more efficient and make cuts in certain areas. However, the company is still hiring globally, and workers who choose the voluntary exit program are being offered relocation benefits if they choose to move closer to an office.
The company says these changes are meant to help improve collaboration and innovation within teams, which is seen as crucial for solving complex problems, especially as AI technology evolves rapidly.
