Google is calling employees back to some US offices for 3 days a week starting April 4, with flexibility like 'work from anywhere' weeks

• Google will start its planned hybrid work model in San Francisco and other US offices on April 4.
• Workers should come in at least three days a week but can request to work from home permanently.

It's back to the office for Googlers in the Bay Area starting April 4.

Google employees in the San Francisco Bay Area and "several other US locations" will return to the office for at least three days a week beginning April 4, according to a company memo sent Wednesday.

"Our hybrid model balances the best of being together in person and being anywhere — where teams can intentionally come together to collaborate and connect in the office, and spend the other days working from wherever best suits their needs," the memo said.

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Google previously announced it would choose a hybrid model, in contrast to tech companies that are allowing workers to be fully remote.

"I do think people get a better balance in a three/two model," the company's CEO, Sundar Pichai, said at The Wall Street Journal's Tech Live conference in October.

The three days will be determined by various teams, and employees can come in more often if they like. Employees could also be required to come in more "due to the nature of their work," the memo said.

Still, there seems to be a fair amount of flexibility. Some Google employees "around the world have transferred to a new location or moved to fully remote work," the memo said, adding that 85% of those applications — presumably to work from home permanently — had been approved.

The company will transition to its hybrid model this month, but employees can request extra time. Google employees can also "explore flexible work options including 'work from anywhere' weeks" or a location change, the memo added.

CNBC previously reported that Google dropped its vaccine requirement (for nonremote and remote workers), and the memo confirmed the move. Google employees who are "fully remote" aren't required to be vaccinated, but people who come into the office must be vaccinated unless the person has a specific accommodation — those employees will be required to wear a mask and get tested regularly.

Are you a Google employee with more to share? Got a tip? Contact reporter Hugh Langley via encrypted email (hlangley@protonmail.com) or encrypted messaging apps Signal/Telegram at +1 628-228-1836. Reach out using a nonwork device.