This is still a thing of the past for Google employees. The tech giant told staff on Thursday that it would postpone its plan to reopen offices in January and implement a hybrid work model.

This is after Google postponed plans to reopen this summer due to the delta variant of the coronavirus.

Now with the spread of the omicron variant it’s a bit already seen for everyone. Some remote workers may secretly rejoice in not having to rush back to the office. Others – and the companies they work for – are fed up with delays.

No matter how much you love your partner, it’s hard to spend all day with her or him. Thus, the members of teleworking couples can set aside time with an outdoor jog or a few hours with a book.

Or, if you’re Andy Diehl, Research Analyst for the College of Western Idaho, “I actually got a job at Pizza Hut delivering pizza, so I had a reason to leave home four hours a night.” , three days per week. . “

He delivered pizza not for the money, but to spend some time alone. Diehl stopped moonlighting when the office reopened in June. He is now a hybrid, with three days a week, two at home. And he loves it.

“Switching back and forth works for me. It also means that every day is a little different, ”said Diehl.

Of course, many remote workers want to stay completely remote forever. But many also desperately want a hybrid arrangement or, at the very least, a clear plan from their boss, according to Adam Galinsky, a professor at Columbia Business School.

“The pingpong of office reopening is going to have a huge impact on staff morale. Because one of the main human needs is a sense of control and predictability, ”he said.

Galinsky is warning companies against excessive reopening dates and said they should have a clear contingency plan should something go wrong.

CEOs must also prepare for a future of constant adaptation, said Johnny Taylor Jr., president and CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management.

“It won’t be the last variation, and we would do better, because leaders learn not to panic every time there is a new announcement,” he said.

Andy Diehl, the research analyst? He’s not panicking about omicron yet. But if things close, he still has Pizza Hut.