Amidst the worsening air quality caused by wildfire smoke engulfing New York and various other major cities, Google has issued instructions for its East Coast employees to work from home. Concerned about the health and well-being of its staff, the company has taken proactive measures to mitigate exposure to the hazardous conditions.
In a memo addressed to employees in the New York area, the management of the company’s local site expressed concerns about the deteriorating air quality, referring to the classification of “unhealthy” levels by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Previously, it was customary for the majority of employees in New York to work from physical office locations for a minimum of three days per week.
According to a note obtained by CNBC, the company is advising its employees, referred to as “Googlers,” to work remotely from home whenever possible and minimize their time spent in outdoor areas. The note also mentions the closure of terraces throughout the New York campus for the day. This proactive measure is being taken to prioritize the well-being and safety of employees by reducing their exposure to the compromised outdoor air quality.
NBC reports that the company has issued advisory notices to employees in several locations, including the Detroit area, Washington, D.C., Reston, Virginia, Pittsburgh, and Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. In light of Canada’s severe wildfire season, Google has also notified employees in the Ontario cities of Toronto and Waterloo about the necessary precautions. This widespread communication reflects the company’s commitment to ensuring the well-being of its employees across various regions affected by the impact of wildfires.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, New York Mayor Eric Adams appealed to all residents of the city, urging them to minimize their outdoor activities. The call for caution comes as airports in the area experienced flight delays due to the prevailing smoke caused by the wildfires in Canada, which has enveloped the surrounding regions. The mayor’s statement and the flight delays highlight the concern for public health and safety in the face of the escalating smoke situation.
Google has faced similar challenges in the recent past, as exemplified by the events of 2020. During that year, the company’s home state of California encountered a prolonged period of hazardous air quality due to unprecedented wildfires ravaging the region. Coinciding with the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, many individuals, including Google employees and those in the tech industry, were already working remotely from home. This confluence of circumstances necessitated an adaptive approach in order to safeguard the well-being of employees while addressing the dual challenges of wildfires and the pandemic.
Google has once again established a dedicated “go” link to provide its employees with convenient access to internal documents and relevant information regarding wildfires and air filtering. This resource is reminiscent of the similar measures taken by the company during the 2020 wildfire incidents. Typically utilized for various purposes such as product details, employee equipment, office information, and social causes, the “go” link now serves as a centralized hub for valuable resources pertaining to the ongoing wildfire situation.
In the memo issued on Wednesday, employees were strongly advised to stay indoors and refrain from engaging in strenuous physical activities. Additionally, they were encouraged to ensure clean filters in their air conditioners. The site leads provided reassurance to those already working on-site, stating that the campuses’ HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) and air-filtration systems are designed to uphold a high standard of air quality within the office premises, even during such challenging circumstances.