Google Mandates Remote Work for Over 100,000 North American Employees
Google instructs all of its North American staff to work from home until at least April 10 to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. The tech giant also establishes a dedicated fund to provide paid sick leave for temporary workers and vendors affected by the pandemic.
Google requires all of its North American employees to work from home until at least April 10 as the COVID-19 coronavirus continues to spread globally. A company spokesperson shares that this recommendation applies to all North American offices for roles that permit remote work, impacting more than 100,000 employees. The primary goal of this mandate is to reduce office density, which health experts suggest helps slow the transmission of the virus and eases the strain on local healthcare resources.
Top executives, including CEO Sundar Pichai and CFO Ruth Porat, communicate the severity of the situation to Google's massive global workforce of over 300,000 people. Porat advises all employees to take their laptops home every evening to ensure they are prepared for sudden remote work requirements. Meanwhile, Pichai actively urges staff on social media to practice social distancing to help protect the healthcare system for those who urgently need medical attention.
In addition to shifting to remote operations, Google announces a new COVID-19 fund designed to support its extended workforce. This fund provides paid sick leave to global temporary staff and vendors who exhibit potential virus symptoms or are unable to work due to quarantine restrictions. The company operates a 24-hour command center led by security and resilience teams to continuously monitor the rapidly evolving pandemic and ensure employee safety.