[jartelt]

And that is totally fine. You and anyone who wants to go back to the office should be absolutely allowed to do so! The issue is more with the modest number of folks who prefer to work remotely and prefer not live near a Google campus.

If you are a high performer who has manager/VP level approval to stay remote, why would Google HR force you to move back to a Google office? They should just allow some folks to work full remote if they have support and approval from their managers, but instead Google corporate is saying everyone needs to be close to their office on Sept 1.

[Leherenn]

To play devil's advocate, managing/being in a team where most people are in the office and a few remote is difficult. There will be a natural tendency to push aside/forget the people remote.

I will be in this position (the only one remote) in a few months when they all go back in the office. I've talked with my manager about it, and we're trying to prepare this, but I'm not sure it is going to work. Also, the commute argument will get worse then. They kinda expect me to come to the office every couple of weeks, and I do not look forward to the 7 hours round trip.

[jartelt]

In that case, then your manager could not support you going remote and require you to come back. If that were the case, I would understand (though it would be a bummer for you).

I am saying there are employees at google who a performing well remotely now, their manager/VP support them staying remote, but Google HR is saying they must return to the office anyways. Google should just allows managers/VPs to let employees stay remote if they are good employees and are performing well. Instead they are pushing a one size fits all policy and haven't said anything about possible manager/VP exceptions.

[underseacables]

This is how I feel! Some need the office, some don’t. Let them all make the decision for what works best, it will make everyone happier and hopefully additional positive benefits.