Google has revised its Work from Anywhere (WFA) policy, making it stricter for employees who choose to work remotely outside their primary office location. Under the updated rules, even a single day of remote work away from an employee’s base office will now count as a full week under the annual WFA allowance.
The policy, first introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic, allowed employees to work from another city, state, or country for up to four weeks a year. It was intended as a separate benefit from Google’s hybrid work model, which let staff work from home two days a week.
According to reports, the company informed employees of the change earlier this month. The update means employees can no longer use WFA days to extend their regular work-from-home schedule. The scheme is designed for temporary work in a different location — not for additional home-working flexibility.
Google has also imposed new restrictions on where employees can use the benefit. Staff are prohibited from using WFA time to work near their main office or from their own home. Those choosing to work from another state or country must adhere to local business hours and comply with local employment and tax laws.
The company said these conditions are necessary for legal and compliance reasons, given the complexities of tax and labour regulations in different jurisdictions. Violations could result in disciplinary action, including termination.
The revised policy comes amid a broader shift across the tech industry. Microsoft, Amazon, and other major firms have also reduced flexibility, encouraging more in-office work. Google itself has been enforcing its hybrid schedule more strictly and has linked office attendance to performance reviews.
Despite the stricter framework, Google emphasised that WFA remains an optional perk, subject to managerial approval and operational feasibility. The overall limit of four weeks per year remains unchanged, but it will now be calculated in week-long blocks rather than individual days.
