Google return to office policy3 days a week.
Most US employees have worked a hybrid schedule with at least three office days a week since April 2022. Since 2025, several units have also called back remote staff who live near an office.
Days in the office
- Policy
- Hybrid
- In effect since
- April 4, 2022
- Announced
- March 2022
- Industry
- Tech
- Headquarters
- Mountain View, CA
- Checked
- Reported October 2026
What the policy says.
- Attendance is tracked with US badge data. Since June 2023, attendance can count in performance reviews, and new fully remote roles are approved only by exception.
- 2025: Google Technical Services and People Operations told remote employees living within 50 miles of an office to go hybrid (3 days) or leave. GTS offered one-time relocation within 50 miles, and voluntary exit packages were offered.
- Some units offered voluntary buyouts to remote workers in early 2025.
- Feb 2025: Sergey Brin urged Gemini staff to be in the office 'at least' every weekday. This was not a formal policy change.
- The 2025 call-backs were set by teams, not company-wide.
How Google's policy changed since 2020.
March 2020
Offices close and employees work from home.
May 2021
Sundar Pichai announces a hybrid plan of about 3 office days, some fully remote roles and up to 4 'work from anywhere' weeks a year.
December 2021
Return to office postponed indefinitely.
March 2022
Google announces a 3-day hybrid return starting April 4, 2022.
April 4, 2022
Hybrid 3-day policy takes effect.
June 2023
Attendance tied to performance reviews, badge data used, remote roles by exception only.
April 2025
GTS and HR remote staff near offices told to go hybrid 3 days or leave.
Sources and how sure we are.
ReportedReported by major outlets, but not every detail is confirmed by the company.No 2026 change has been reported; the current status rests on 2025 reporting and a third-party tracker from October 2026.
- 1.Google tells employees to return to offices in US from April 4 Business Standard (Reuters), March 3, 2022
- 2.Google to crack down on office attendance, asks remote workers to reconsider CNBC via NBC Bay Area, June 7, 2023
- 3.Google remote workers risk jobs unless they return to office three days a week Fortune, April 24, 2025
- 4.Google is demanding that some remote employees return to the office, or lose their jobs TechRadar
- 5.Companies Returning to Office: RTO Tracker [October 2026] Archie (third-party tracker), October 2026
Days a week are for most US corporate employees; some teams, roles and countries differ. Spot something out of date? Email hello@forgot.dev.
Other tech employers, side by side.
- Amazon5 days a week, since January 20255
- Dell5 days a week, since March 20255
- X (Twitter)5 days a week, since November 20225
- Intel4 days a week, since September 20254
- Snap4 days a week, since February 20234
- Apple3 days a week, since September 20223
- Expedia Group3 days a week3
- IBM3 days a week, since January 20243
Working to an office rule? Plan the days that matter.
The hybrid work schedule template builds a week of office days for your team: anchor days everyone shares, the rest spread so the office never overflows. Then Forgot keeps office days, remote days and vacations on one calendar, so nobody commutes in for a planning day half the team is away for.
Questions
Does Google require employees to return to the office?
Yes. Most US employees have worked a hybrid schedule with at least three office days a week since April 2022. Since 2025, several units have also called back remote staff who live near an office.
How many days a week does Google require in the office?
3 days a week in the office, as of October 2026.
When did Google's current office policy start?
It took effect in April 2022, after being announced in March 2022.
What was the latest change to Google's office policy?
April 2025: GTS and HR remote staff near offices told to go hybrid 3 days or leave.