In June last year, Google ended work from home for its employees and asked people to report to the office for at least three days a week. HRs at the tech giant reportedly sent warning emails to employees, asking them to return to offices. It was also reported that Google would be including employee attendance in their performance reviews as well.
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Now, as per fresh reports, Google’s new office has been facing WiFi issues for months and employees are being told to work from the adjacent cafe for better signals. A Google engineer also said as per the report that the problematic Wi-Fi has not been conducive to Google’s efforts in promoting a three-day-per-week return-to-office directive.
A Reuters report states that Google proudly unveiled its cutting-edge “Bay View” building recently, showcasing futuristic features and state-of-the-art design. The new office is nestled within Alphabet’s Mountain View headquarters but has been encountering certain problems.
Reports of a connectivity hiccup in the building have emerged. According to multiple sources cited by Reuters, the building, which is a collaborative workspace equipped with recliners, has been experiencing persistent Wi-Fi issues. The glitch has left employees tethered to ethernet cables at their desks, with some even resorting to their smartphones’ hotspots for a stable internet connection.
A Google spokesperson acknowledged the connectivity challenges, stating that the company has undertaken several improvements and anticipates a resolution soon.
“We’ve had Wi-Fi connectivity issues in Bay View. Google has made several improvements to address the issue,” the spokesperson said and added that the company is hoping to fix the situation “in the coming weeks.”
For employees, including AI engineers and members of the advertising team housed in the building, the wonky Wi-Fi is an unexpected obstacle, especially amid Google’s push for a three-day-per-week return-to-office mandate. An AI engineer expressed disbelief, saying, “You’d think the world’s leading internet company would have worked this out.”
The Reuters report also quotes an AI engineer assigned to the building saying that the “wonky Wi-Fi has been no help for Google pushing a three day per week return-to-office mandate.”
The report further added that managers are suggesting that employees venture outside, or work at a nearby cafe where the Wi-Fi signal reportedly holds stronger. In addition to this, some workers have also received upgraded laptops with more robust Wi-Fi capabilities.
While Google has not officially disclosed the cause of the Wi-Fi troubles, employees speculate that the building’s distinctive wave-like rooftop might be swallowing up broadband signals. Meanwhile, under this vast, oceanic roof, Google teams are working on advancing the Gemini AI software, considered pivotal for the company’s future success.
