The New Office Mandate: Google’s Big Move and What It Really Means for Workplace Wellness

by Jamie on Wellness

When Google talks, the world listens.
(Actually, when the world talks, Google is usually already listening — and turning it into a new policy.)

Their latest move — requiring employees to return to physical offices three days a week — has reignited the conversation around hybrid work, employee wellness, and what it really means to feel supported in the workplace.

But let’s pause.

Are we moving forward, or just repackaging old expectations with better branding?

As someone who works at the intersection of environment and well-being, I see this shift not as a scheduling decision — but as a culture check.

Here’s what we should be asking:

  • Are offices being reimagined to support how people actually work now, or just populated for the sake of appearances?

  • Is the environment helping people focus, collaborate, and feel energized — or just enforcing control?

  • Are we forcing presence, or enabling productivity?

Because the truth is: no one does their best work in stale spaces with poor lighting, recycled air, and nowhere to think.

This isn’t about trendy redesigns. It’s about intentional choices that support how people feel in a space — and how that directly impacts performance.

💡 And to be fair, Google may actually be one of the few companies that can pull this off. They’ve long been known for creating comfortable, collaborative environments — from bean bag chairs to nap pods — long before the rest of us were talking about “employee experience.”

But now, expectations are even higher.

Small changes can go a long way:

  • Pay attention to the senses. Is the lighting harsh? Is it noisy? Are there places where people can focus quietly and others where they can collaborate with ease?

  • Bring nature in. Even a few plants, natural textures, or access to daylight can dramatically shift the energy. This is called biophilic design — the practice of connecting people to natural elements that help calm the nervous system and restore clarity.

  • Create flexibility. Not everyone works the same way. Providing options empowers people to manage their energy instead of just their time.

And if your team is back in-office and still working with rigged mouse jigglers just to appear “active,” ask yourself:
Do you want warm bodies in chairs, or do you want real collaboration, real results, and a team that’s genuinely invested?

If budget or timing is a concern, know this:
You don’t have to knock down walls or start from scratch.
Supporting well-being in the workplace isn’t about how much you spend — it’s about how much you notice.

Jamie on Wellness partners with forward-thinking companies to align their physical spaces with people’s real needs. Through strategic consulting and practical design insights, we help create environments where focus, connection, and well-being can thrive.

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You Know What Really Grinds My Gears? Why We Wait Until It’s Too Late to Care About Wellness

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Wellness Isn’t a To-Do List — It’s a Design Strategy