Google is reshaping how hybrid work works within its ranks. Some teams will now have specific “core days” where everyone needs to be present in the office. Additionally, employees are being asked to sync their in-office schedules more closely with their teams, ensuring overlapping days for collaboration.
Leadership says it’s not about forcing people under roofs—it’s about nurturing connection, aligning around projects, and reducing the “fragmentation” seen among remote teams. But the move’s raising eyebrows: can stricter policies coexist with flexibility?
Google’s new work rules suggest they believe the magic of innovation still happens face-to-face. But whether that shift will stick, or push talent elsewhere, remains the real story.