Google is indefinitely pushing back its January return-to-office for UK staff amid growing concerns over the Omicron strain of coronavirus.
The tech giant has also told staff outside the US to cancel in-person social gatherings and parties until 2022 amid a wave of festive cancellations by big businesses, MailOnline revealed this week.
Google said in August that it would expect workers to come in about three days a week from January 10 at the earliest, ending its voluntary work-from-home policy.
But yesterday executives told employees that the company would put off the deadline beyond that date, with no fixed return yet.
Google insisted that the decision was in line with its earlier guidance that a return would depend on local conditions.
Nearly 40 per cent of U.S. employees have come into an office in recent weeks, Google said, with higher percentages in other parts of the world.
But hundreds of employees have protested the company's vaccination mandate for those working on US government contracts.
Google staff were expected to be back at one of their three London HQs by
Ronan Harris (pictured), Vice President and MD for Google UK and Ireland, told staff that face-to-face events and business meetings have to be given the go-ahead by a company director
To party or not to party this Christmas? What Britain's biggest employers plan to do about this year's staff festive bash
Google was also one of the first companies to ask its employees to work from home during the pandemic. It has about 85 offices across nearly 60 countries.
Europe has so far recorded 79 cases of the Omicron variant, first detected in southern Africa last month.
MailOnline revealed on Wednesday that Google urged staff to cancel in-person social gatherings until 2022 amid a wave of festive cancellations over Omicron fears.
Google emailed its British workers urging them to 'move any planned in-person social gatherings until 2022' and limit them to no more than 15 people.
Ronan Harris, Vice President and MD for Google UK and Ireland, reportedly told staff that face-to-face events and business meetings have to be given the go-ahead by a company director as fears increase over the Omicron variant.
The government's muddled messaging has led to a wave of festive cancellations, with major companies including NatWest, Aviva and Deutsche Bank saying all staff would have to take a lateral flow test before attending their Christmas parties.
Legal & General decided in October that Christmas celebrations should be kept small and team-based; Microsoft is holding a large 'virtual' party'; while Lloyd's decided to hold its annual staff bash in the summer.
More than half (52 per cent) of UK workplaces have chosen not to hold a Christmas office party, according to a poll of 2,000 staff by Covid testing firm Prenetics.
But for the businesses shelling out millions on Christmas parties for staff, they are unlikely to get a full refund unless Boris Johnson changes the formal guidance.
Earlier today, George Freeman, the Under Secretary of State for Science, plunged Christmas party plans for millions of Britons into chaos after declaring it would be 'sensible' to limit them to 'four or five staff' or axe them completely.
He said: 'It slightly depends on the nature of the business. For many small businesses, four or five staff, who are working together every day anyway, gathering to have a drink isn't a big step up in risk.
'But some companies might normally bring hundreds of people in from around the world to a big party, and they may decide, this year, is that sensible given the pandemic and given where we are? In the end, I think business people know how to make those decisions'.
He also revealed that he was cancelling his own department's bash, changing it to drinks on Zoom instead amid concerns over the new Omicron variant, admitting: 'It won't be the best party in the world.'
But just hours later, the Prime Minister received his booster shot live on TV before telling Sky News there was no reason for Britons to change their plans.
'People should follow the guidance we've set out,' he said. 'They shouldn't be cancelling things, there is no need for that at all and it isn't what we're saying. The most important thing you can do in all circumstances is to have your booster when it becomes available.'
There is growing uncertainty about the Omicron variant, which is fuelling a meteoric rise in cases in South Africa. Nationally, cases there soared to 11,535 today marking a 370 per cent rise in a week, and up a third on around 8,500 yesterday
George Freeman is the fifth minister to give different advice about festive parties with half of businesses cancelling this year costing UK hospitality 'billions'.
Sajid Javid was the first to spark anger from hospitality bosses after he urged partygoers to take a Covid test.
The Health Secretary even suggested they should consider wearing a face mask.
Yet one of his health ministers, Gillian Keegan, urged: 'Continue with your Christmas plans, continue with your nativity plays and your Christmas parties.'
Last night Therese Coffey sent more mixed messages on socialising after she warned people to avoid 'snogging under the mistletoe' over the holiday period.
And there was more chaos on Tuesday when Dr Harries said people should limit socialising in December. This sparked suspicion among Tory MPs that she was being set up as the fall guy by ministers who are too scared to admit further restrictions are likely.
Mr Johnson's intervention on Sky News will be seen as an attempt to bring clarity to his government's position, after hospitality bosses complained muddled and confusing advice from ministers had led to a 'catastrophic' 48 hours for the industry.
