As the city's COVID-19 rates have dropped, we Chicagoans are returning to our restaurants, bars, shops and, most notably, our offices. I, for one, am

Google Chicago workers return to HQ today. Here's the digital giant's plan.

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2021-05-25 17:30:07

As the city's COVID-19 rates have dropped, we Chicagoans are returning to our restaurants, bars, shops and, most notably, our offices. I, for one, am excited to do all of these things, thanks to the hard work of those who came up with a very effective vaccine.

One silver lining in this COVID cloud is that we're getting a chance to reimagine the ideal workplace and think about the ways we can make it work better for everyone. And we're encouraging other business leaders to join us in this effort, for the sake of this city that we love. If we want to kickstart the recovery effort and get Chicago's economy humming again, we need to get back in the office.

Our new mindset goes beyond just "maximizing productivity," "leveraging our employees' assets" or whatever business-speak might apply here. We realize the importance of giving employees their freedom, while also encouraging camaraderie and collaboration—keys to a dynamic and innovative culture. That's why we're creating a remote/in-person hybrid arrangement for our 1,400 Chicago workers that provides the best of both worlds.

Essentially, we're undoing the regimented, overcrowded open-office plan that has become the standard over the years. Instead, we're replacing it with multi-purpose offices and flexible workspaces that incorporate new video technology, seamlessly connecting employees in the office with those joining virtually.