Google will begin tracking staff’s office attendance and issuing warnings to those working from home too much, the technology giant updated on Wednesday.
Staff’s in-person office attendance will be tracked and logged based on badge taps when entering Google buildings, the firm’s chief people officer Fiona Cicconi revealed.
Those failing to “consistently” come in at least three times per week, as is Google’s policy, will then face warnings and potentially see their staff reviews affected.
“There’s just no substitute for coming together in person,” Cicconi said in an email to staff, “there’s no question that working together in the same room makes a positive difference”.
Fully remote working will now only be allowed “by exception,” with staff approved to work from home also being urged back into the office.
Companies have been struggling to tempt staff back into offices full-time since the pandemic forced waves of people to set up home workspaces.
JP Morgan Chase & Co told employees to return to offices in April, with absence potentially prompting unspecified “corrective action” from managers.
Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) rival Twitter also urged staff back into company workplaces following Elon Musk’s takeover of the company in October, with Google’s move coming amid heightened competition with Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) over the development of artificial intelligence.