• Source:JND
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Google is stepping up its return-to-office policy across several key departments, signaling a shift away from remote work flexibility. The company is now requiring employees who live within 50 miles of a Google office to be on-site at least three days a week—or face possible termination. This new mandate is being rolled out alongside voluntary exit packages for select U.S.-based employees.

The updated policy affects teams within the Knowledge & Information division, which includes Search, ads, commerce, and core engineering functions. Staff in these groups who are currently working remotely must adopt the hybrid work schedule by September. If they choose not to, they can opt for a severance package under the company's Voluntary Exit Program (VEP).

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In an internal memo, Jen Fitzpatrick, Senior Vice President of Core Systems, defended the move toward more in-person collaboration. “When it comes to connection, collaboration, and moving quickly to innovate together, there’s just no substitute for coming together in person,” she wrote.

Nick Fox, who leads the Knowledge & Information group, also addressed the new policy in a message to employees. He underscored the company’s focus on engagement and high performance: “My goal is for every single one of us here to be all-in on building the future of our products.”

Fox encouraged top performers to stay on board, adding, “If you're excited about your work, energized by the opportunity ahead, and performing well, I really (really!) hope you don't take this!”

At the same time, Fox acknowledged that the transition may not be right for everyone. “This VEP offers a supportive exit path for those of you who don’t feel aligned with our strategy, don’t feel energized by your work, or are having difficulty meeting the expectations of your role,” he noted.

This move is part of a broader strategy at Google to reduce long-term remote work, a trend the company has been gradually reinforcing since earlier in 2025. In April, Google began notifying remote employees in several departments that their roles would require relocation or a return to office attendance, or else risk job loss. Some workers were even offered assistance to move closer to office locations.

The buyouts announced this week are the latest in a series of workforce changes. In early 2025, Google began targeted voluntary exits after significant layoffs in 2023, when it cut around 12,000 jobs. Despite ongoing streamlining, the company continues to hire in priority areas like artificial intelligence and infrastructure development.

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It's worth noting that the current return-to-office policy does not apply to staff in DeepMind, Google Cloud, YouTube, or the central advertising sales teams. However, YouTube has its own separate office attendance policy that similarly requires local remote workers to return in person.

Google’s leadership maintains that a stronger in-office presence will help drive innovation, collaboration, and long-term productivity across its most critical teams.