- Wildfires in Canada are sending smoke to cities in the northeastern United States.
- In a memo to staff on Wednesday, Google told New York office workers to work from home, according to CNBC.
- Officials at the company’s New York site said air quality in many parts of the region had reached “unhealthy” levels.
As New York skies turn orange from smoke from Canadian wildfires and air quality reaches unhealthy levels, Googlers have been told to work from home.
In a memo on Wednesday, officials at Google’s New York site told employees they should stay home because air quality in many parts of the region had reached “unhealthy” levels. “, reported CNBC.
The company’s hybrid workweek policy requires employees to work from the office three days a week.
“We advise Googlers to work from home if possible and limit their exposure to outdoor air,” reads the memo obtained by CNBC.
“The patios on our New York campus will remain closed today,” the memo reads.
Advisory notices were sent to employees in the Detroit, Washington, DC, Virginia, Pittsburgh and North Carolina area, according to the report.
Canadian employees in Toronto and Waterloo have also been notified, according to CNBC. The country is on track for its worst wildfire season, officials warned Monday.
Google’s memo told employees to stay indoors, “avoid vigorous physical activity” and run their air conditioners with clean filters, CNBC reported. Those already on company campuses were told that Google’s HVAC and air filtration systems “maintain high air quality inside our offices even under these circumstances,” according to the report.
The U.S. government has issued air quality warnings across the Midwest and Northeast, asking people to limit time spent outdoors. The air in New York smelled strongly of burnt wood, Insider reported.
Wildfire smoke grew so bad Wednesday afternoon that it prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to slow or halt flights to LaGuardia Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport due to reduced visibility , reported Insider.
Both airports are now operating with ground delays. John F. Kennedy International Airport is unaffected so far, Insider reported.
Google did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment sent outside of normal business hours.
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