Google is further restricting its flexible work options, scaling back its popular “Work From Anywhere” (WFA) policy that was first introduced during the pandemic, according to internal documents viewed by CNBC.The WFA programme previously allowed employees to work from a location outside their main office for up to four weeks a year. But under the new rules, working remotely for even one day will now be counted as an entire WFA week.“Whether you log one WFA day or five WFA days in a given standard work week, one WFA week will be deducted from your WFA weekly balance,” the document stated. The change went into effect earlier this year, CNBC reported.
The company clarified that WFA time cannot be used to work from home or nearby, as the policy is designed for employees temporarily working from another location—not for hybrid or at-home setups. Google will continue with its hybrid schedule, allowing most staff to work remotely two days a week.At a recent all-hands meeting, John Casey, Google’s Vice President of Performance and Rewards, said the WFA policy “was meant to meet Googlers where they were during the pandemic” and was always intended to be taken “in increments of a week.”The update also restricts employees from working at Google offices in different states or countries during WFA time, citing “legal and financial implications of cross-border work.” Depending on their location, staff may also be required to work business hours that align with the local time zone.According to CNBC, the revised rules exclude certain employees such as data centre staff and roles that require physical presence, but violations of the WFA policy could lead to disciplinary action or even termination.The changes come as several tech giants continue to pull back pandemic-era remote work flexibility. Microsoft recently announced a three-day in-office requirement starting next year, while Amazon has instructed corporate staff to return to the office full-time.Earlier this year, Google also offered voluntary buyouts to some full-time US employees and reportedly told some remote workers that their jobs could be up for layoffs if they refused to return to a hybrid schedule.
