New Google office can’t get Wi-Fi right, managers tell employees to work from cafe

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.

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.”