Google delays reopening U.S. offices until September

When the coronavirus pandemic first started to take hold back in March, tech companies quickly shifted to getting as many employees to work from home as possible. Google was one of those companies, and it planned to get people back in the office this month, but not anymore.

As Reuters reports, Google's intention was to start reopening its U.S. offices in different cities on July 6, initially at around 10 percent of their capacity. By September, offices were expected to be up to 30 percent full. However, coronavirus cases continue to spike in different areas of the U.S., and Google has now rethought its plans and delayed the reopening.

In an internal memo to employees, Chris Rackow, Google’s vice president of global security said, "For all of you that are working from home, please continue to do so unless you are told otherwise by your manager ... We don’t expect this guidance to change until Monday, Sept. 7 (Labor Day) at the earliest." He also went on to say "COVID-19 is still very much alive."

The fact Rackow says Sept 7. "at the earliest" suggests the date could easily be revised again and that the decision really isn't in the hands of Google management, it's down to infection rates across the states. I'm sure many Google employees will be quite relieved today to find out they aren't being asked to return to the office just yet.