Google building in Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood. (GeekWire File Photo)

Google announced Wednesday that it require U.S. employees to get vaccinated before returning to campus as tech companies alter their back-to-office plans with COVID-19 cases on the rise.

“The implementation will vary according to local conditions and regulations, and will not apply until vaccines are widely available in your area,” Google CEO Sundar Pichai wrote in a blog post. “You’ll get guidance from your local leads about how this will affect you, and we’ll also share more details on an exceptions process for those who cannot be vaccinated for medical or other protected reasons.”

The mandate will first apply to U.S. workers and later be required for other global offices.

Google, which employs more than 144,000 people worldwide and more than 7,000 in the Seattle region, also extended its work-from-home policy by more than one month to October 18. “We recognize that many Googlers are seeing spikes in their communities caused by the Delta variant and are concerned about returning to the office,” Pichai wrote. “This extension will allow us time to ramp back into work while providing flexibility for those who need it.”

Other companies and agencies are mandating similar rules with the highly-transmissible Delta variant spreading across the U.S. President Biden plans to require federal workers and contractors to be vaccinated or follow regular testing and mitigation requirements.

The Wall Street Journal noted that workplace vaccine requirements are tricky because of potential lawsuits and conflict from employees.

The corporate world will be watching the tech industry closely, given that tech companies were among the first to pivot to remote work when the pandemic began last year.

Apple last week also postponed its office return from September to October, and will reinstate mask requirements for staff and customers at retail stores.

In response to an inquiry from GeekWire, Amazon said it is requiring employees who have not been vaccinated to wear masks in offices. The Seattle tech giant in June adjusted its return-to-work plans for corporate employees, issuing guidance that will allow for a mix of remote and in-person work, backtracking from communication in March which touted a “return to an office-centric culture” as its baseline.

Amazon said in March that it expected a return to the office in the fall. The company lifted a mask requirement for vaccinated workers inside warehouses in May.

We’ve reached out to Microsoft for updates on its back-to-office plan. The Redmond, Wash.-based company began reopening its campus in March. Update: Microsoft said it does not have any updates to share.

Update: Facebook is also requiring vaccinations for U.S. employees at the office.

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