Google Mandates Month-Long Remote Work for North American Staff
Google directs all North American employees, including those at its West Loop headquarters, to work from home through April 10 to combat the coronavirus spread.
Google instructs all of its North American employees to work from home for a month to protect staff from the coronavirus outbreak. This mandatory recommendation affects tens of thousands of workers, including those at the company's Midwest headquarters in Chicago's West Loop. The tech giant keeps its offices open only for employees whose specific roles require them to be physically present.
Company officials hope this work-from-home directive helps hamper the spread of COVID-19 and reduces the burden on local communities and health resources. Prior to this broader announcement, Google already allowed employees in states like California, New York, and Washington to work remotely. The new policy extends these precautions across the entire continent through April 10.
This decision by Google reflects a growing trend of major cancellations and precautionary measures happening across Chicago as the virus spreads. Illinois currently reports 19 cases of the virus, prompting Governor JB Pritzker to declare a disaster proclamation and demand more testing resources from the federal government. Local health officials emphasize that remote work and the cancellation of large gatherings play a crucial role in slowing the transmission of the illness.