Shortly after Google’s announcement on Wednesday, Facebook also announced the news. The company also stated that it would compulsory vaccinations for American employees working in the office. There will be exceptions for medical and other reasons.

A Facebook spokesperson told CBC News: “We don’t have specific details to share about our Canadian office.” “As the situation develops, we will evaluate our approach in other regions.”

In an email sent to more than 130,000 Google employees worldwide, CEO Sundar Pichai stated that the company’s current goal is to have most employees return to the office starting on October 18, rather than the previous target date of September 1st.

The decision also affects tens of thousands of contractors, Google intends to continue to pay them, and access to its campus is still limited.

“This expansion will give us time to start working again, while providing flexibility for those who need it,” Pichai wrote.

Pichai revealed that once the office is completely reopened, everyone working there must be vaccinated. The requirement will first be implemented at Google’s headquarters and other U.S. offices in Mountain View, California, and then expanded to more than 40 other countries/regions where Google operates.

‘Things to do’

Google has extensive operations in Canada, but the company did not immediately respond to a request for comment on when it could implement such policies for its Canadian workforce. However, Pichai’s letter clearly shows that this is not just a US policy.

“We will roll out this policy in the United States in the next few weeks and will expand to other regions in the next few months,” he said.

Watch | How social media can help spread viruses and other misinformation:

Public health experts appreciated this move.

“This is something that needs to be done, otherwise we will endanger workers and their families,” said Dr. Leana Wen, a professor of public health at George Washington University and a former health commissioner in Baltimore.

“It is unfair to expect parents to come back to work and sit side by side with unvaccinated people who may carry potentially deadly viruses.”

Wen said that because children under the age of 12 are currently not eligible for the vaccine, if parents are with colleagues who have not been vaccinated, they can take the virus home from the office.

Various government agencies have announced that all employees are required to be vaccinated, but so far, the corporate world has been taking a more cautious approach, even though most lawyers believe these regulations are legal.

Most employers are hesitant about whether they need a vaccine

Delta Air Lines and United Airlines require new employees to show proof of vaccination. Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley require their employees to disclose their vaccinations, but do not require employees to be vaccinated.

According to regular surveys by research company Gartner, less than 10% of employers stated that they intend to require all employees to be vaccinated.

Brian Kropp, Gartner’s head of practice research for human resources, predicts that although other major technology companies may now follow Google and Facebook’s position on vaccines, employers in other industries may still be reluctant.

Kropp said: “Google is seen as a different company, I think to become a game changer, you need one or two big employers to do similar things.”

Pichai wrote that Google’s vaccine authorization will be adjusted to comply with the laws and regulations of each location, and exceptions will be made for medical and other “protected” reasons.

“Vaccination is one of the most important ways to keep ourselves and our community healthy in the coming months,” Pichai explained.

The rapid increase in cases in the past month has prompted more public health officials to urge stricter measures to help overcome suspicions and misinformation about vaccines.

It is not clear how many Google employees have not yet been vaccinated. In his email, Pichai described the company’s high vaccination rate.

Remote work is still strong

Google’s decision to extend its remote work was made after another technology giant, Apple, took a similar move, which recently moved its return to the office plan from September to October.

Given that the technology industry has been at the forefront of the shift in remote work triggered by the spread of the new coronavirus, the delays of Apple and Google may affect other major employers to take similar precautions.

Even before the World Health Organization announced a pandemic in March 2020, Google, Apple, and many other well-known technology companies had told their employees to work from home.

Watch | Business travel rebounds particularly slowly:

A recent study by consulting firm McKinsey & Company predicts that business travel will not return to pre-pandemic levels within a few years. Many companies and business travelers find that they can reduce costs by switching to virtual events and meetings, which may harm businesses that rely on business travel. 1:59

This marks the third time that Google has postponed the date to fully reopen its offices.

Google’s vaccine requirements may also encourage other employers to issue similar directives to prevent outbreaks and minimize the need to wear masks in the office.

Although most companies plan to bring their employees back at least a few days a week, other companies in the technology industry have decided to let their employees work in remote areas permanently.