Uber is reopening its San Francisco offices, but only at 20% capacity, and staff can decide whether or not to return

• Uber plans to reopen its Mission Bay, San Francisco office on March 29, it announced Thursday.
• The Uber offices would reopen at 20% capacity and staff will have to wear face coverings, it said.
• Return to the office is voluntary, Uber said.

Uber said on Thursday it planned to reopen its offices at Mission Bay, San Francisco, with 20% occupancy on March 29, and provide an option for its staff to return to work on a "voluntary basis."

The ride-hailing firm had previously announced the extension of its work-from-home policy until September 13.

The employees returning to office would have to adhere to COVID-19 protocols such as face coverings during the initial reopening phase, maintaining safe distance, and wiping down areas such as their desks, Uber said in a statement.

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The company also said that employees or those with family members who are sick would be required to stay home.

There is growing momentum for companies to let employees work from home permanently, and some companies are canceling office leases. In November, Uber put more than 25% of its huge new office in lower Manhattan on the market for sublease, sources told Insider.

In a recent survey from workplace-technology firm Envoy, 47% of respondents said they would leave their current job if their company didn't offer a hybrid option post-pandemic.

Google seems to be trying to buck the trend. Last week, the tech giant announced plans to invest $7 billion in US offices and data centers, including new offices in Houston, Texas, and Portland, Oregon.

"Coming together in person to collaborate and build community is core to Google's culture, and it will be an important part of our future," Google CEO Sundar Pichai said.

And as the COVID-19 vaccine rollout ramps up across the US, with President Joe Biden saying all adults would be eligible for the jab by May 1, some employers are mandating staff to return to the office.

The New York Times reported that New York City is requiring around 80,000 municipal workers to return to the office on a staggered basis from May 3.