Air quality in many areas has reached unhealthy levels, according to the New York City Environmental Protection Agency. In New York, most Google employees are set to work in the office at least three days a week under the new policy.
However, due to the severe wildfires in Canada, the company is advising employees to work from home if possible and limit exposure to the outside air. Rooftop terraces at its office buildings will also be closed.
According to NBC, Google sent notices to employees in Detroit, Washington, Reston, Pittsburgh, Raleigh-Durham. In Canada, which is experiencing its worst wildfire season in history, Google also notified employees in Ontario and Waterloo.
In a statement on June 7, New York Mayor Eric Adams urged all residents to limit outdoor activities. Flights were delayed as smoke from Canadian wildfires engulfed the surrounding area.
Google has faced this before. In 2020, California experienced hazardous air quality for a month due to record-breaking wildfires across the state. Many people at Google and the tech industry have been working remotely during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Google has also created an internal website with information and resources on wildfires and air purification. This week’s memo instructs employees to stay indoors, avoid strenuous physical activity, and use air conditioning with clean filters. The company also reassures those working in the office that its HVAC and air filtration systems “maintain high indoor air quality even in these conditions.”
(According to CNBC)
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