Former Google CEO explains why employees should return to the office

Answering CNBC, the 66-year-old billionaire described himself as a traditional type. He considers it important to have everyone in the office and has proven effective.

From the beginning of this week, Google officially launched the program that combines remote and on-site work. Most employees will be in the office at least 3 days a week. Mr. Schmidt served as CEO of Google from 2001 to 2011, and is credited with turning a fledgling technology startup into the Silicon Valley giant it is today.

He appreciates the office environment, efforts to bring people closer together like discussions at the coffee table… “Do you remember all that? Is there something wrong?”

According to him, this is not simply a matter of nostalgia. There are many cases where it is advisable to work directly. For example, issues of professionalism – which are especially important in businesses with young employees – are difficult to achieve online. When he first joined Google, the company was filled with students, acting as if the office was a school. “I often tell them, ‘this is not a school. This is a professional environment, you can’t do that. And/or it may be illegal. So please stop immediately.”

Younger employees, specifically between 25 and 35, can also develop a more effective management style while in the office. It includes learning conference etiquette, presentation skills, office politics, and how to deal with opponents, both inside and outside the company. “If you miss that just because you’re sitting on the sofa at home while working, I don’t know how you’re going to build good governance.”

Of course, there are exceptions as well. Mr. Schmidt said that some employees in professional roles do not require face-to-face communication, others hate the community environment at the office and many are also afraid of the long commute. However, he believes that if the shift to permanent remote work on a large scale, the work experience will be lost at least 30 to 40 years. He said that the current virtual tools cannot equal the network in a company.