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When will be Techies Back in their Cubicles?

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Most tech companies buckle up to get back to their respective offices, while following hybrid working or remote working for certain days as well. As the fear of the coronavirus’ spread remains very much alive among every company around the world. Therefore, tech companies like Apple Inc., have announced the return of its workforce with few days at the offices and a few days at the worker's home office.

On that note, Google is also on the same page, by having three days in office and two days at home. Whereas , Twitter Inc., has decided to shut down its reopened offices in the US, considering the alarming rate of growing COVID-19 cases.

Although lockdowns begin to unlock around the world, companies are not entirely up for getting their offices uncurled. Since there are certain categories of work which sit well with the hybrid working model while certain roles most definitely call for in-office presence.

This stands true for most tech companies and others alike, as they require labs and equipment that cannot necessarily be operated or managed at typical home environments. Thus, tech companies are swaying between these categories to not get the work going and the buck flowing. Here is how each one adapts its working aspects in line with the current scenario.

Google Turns Flexible
The internet-based services and technology products company denotes that at least 60 percent of its 140,000 Googlers globally spend about three days in the office, while the remaining two days can be carried through work-from-home. In accordance with that, the tech giant also outlined that 20 percent are allowed to work at its new office location, while another 20 percent can work from home.

Regarding these new locations, the company’s CEO, Sundar Pichai has made it clear that fellow Googlers are not necessarily required to work from the place they are assigned at all times. Instead, Mr.Pichai has cleared the path of working from different locations apart from their assigned office for up to four weeks annually. But certain Googlers are given the option of more than three days a week based on their employment.

LinkedIn Inks in Remote-Working Option
The business and online employment-oriented services company has provided the option of full-time remote working or a hybrid option even when offices have commenced to function. It drives in line with new policy, allowing its global workforce the opportunity to work remotely full-time or part-time in an office.

LinkedIn has not enforced mandatory vaccination to its workforce, as the company has provided full-time remote working options, including part time working options as well

Teuila Hanson, Chief People Officer, who had already seen a large number of people working on hybrid working methods before the pandemic. On that note, Hanson forecasts a significant increase in the number of staff who work remotely. Hanson did, however, imply that certain roles do necessitate in-office employment.

Apple Still in a Grapple
Although the consumer electronics company was one of the firsts to razzle-dazzle in remote working during the pandemic. But the razzle-dazzle will soon dismantle, as the company’s CEO Tim Cook has announced that starting September most of its working force are expected to report to office this year. This accounts to certain days to work from office while the rest is assigned for work-from-home. Those days are Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays are allotted for office working days. While Wednesdays and Fridays are meant for working from home.

Mr.Cook also stated that teams who need to work in-person will be allowed to work four to five days a week. Upon having to have been exercising remote working, Mr.Cook expressed that, “despite all that we've accomplished while many of us have been separated, the truth is that something crucial has been missing from this last year: each other”.

Microsoft's Option Tuft
The computer software maker has provided multiple flexible options to its working companions. Earlier this year, when the company commenced welcoming back its workforce into its Redmond Washington offices and other offices around the world, it offered options like return, continue to work remotely, or even work between work home and office.

However Twitter, on the other hand, has completely began to shut its offices around the globe.

Most Twitter's Offices to No Longer Flutter
During the wake of the pandemic, the social media tech giant went rogue with its decision of having its workforce to indefinitely work from home. The social media tech giant has closed most of its offices excluding its San Francisco and New York offices at 50 percent capacity in the two cities. Its other offices are shut and being shut due to the concern of rising covid cases in those locations where these offices are housed.

Facebook Expands the Remote-Working Hook
Facebook is encouraging remote work, telling staff that as of June 15, all levels of the organization will be able to request remote work, and everyone whose position can be done remotely will be able to do so.

Vaccinations Made Mandatory
Facebook and Alphabet, the parent company of Google, have stated that all personnel entering their US operations must be fully vaccinated, reversing a policy adopted earlier this year and signaling a big shift among industry heavyweights. Several other big companies, including Adobe, VMware, Twilio, and Asana, Protocol, had also established similar policies for their workforce in person over the summer.

Google (GOOGL.O) and Facebook Inc., have said that all U.S. employees must be vaccinated before entering the office. In the next few months, Google plans to expand its vaccine drive to additional regions.

Streaming giant Netflix has recently introduced a policy requiring cast and crew members on all of its US shows to be vaccinated.

Additionally, Apple has announced that even if consumers and personnel are vaccinated, Apple plans to resume its mask requirement policy in most of its US retail outlets.

However, LinkedIn has not enforced mandatory vaccination to its workforce, as the company has provided full-time remote working options, including part time working options as well.

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