If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it's that sometimes you just want to Zoom call everyone instead of meeting up physically. Fortunately, Google understands your plight, and will now let you declare that you'll be attending a scheduled meeting virtually instead of physically.
The New RSVP Option in Google Calendar
The internet giant announced the new feature on its blog, Google Workspace Updates. Google states that COVID-19 has transformed a lot of businesses into a hybrid model, where people either work in the office, at home, or a mix of both.
The thing is, it's hard for a manager to estimate how many people will attend a meeting physically and how many will log in virtually. If too many people attend physically, the manager's selected meeting room may not have enough space to fit everyone. If too many people attend virtually, the manager may end up booking a huge room for three people.
Now when you accept a meeting invite on Google Calendar, it'll ask you if you're going physically or digitally. Both the event organizers and fellow guests can see each other's preference, so everyone knows what to expect when the meeting starts.
Right now, you can only use this feature within Google Calendar itself. Google wants to bring this functionality over to invites sent in Gmail too. Unfortunately, if you use a different platform such as Microsoft Outlook, it won't show you if someone is attending physically or digitally.
Regardless, this is an interesting move by Google and reflects how the tech giant believes what our workplaces will look like in the future. If this new feature is anything to go by, it's that the company likely believes that the hybrid work model will persist long after COVID-19 dies down. Who knows; it may even become the new norm.
I'll Be There... and Here, Too
As the workplace evolves into a new hybrid model, Google is ensuring its Calendar app can keep up with the needs of businesses worldwide. Now you can use the app to declare if you'll attend a meeting in person or in your pajamas at home.
The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced a lot of new practices and words into the world. For example, it's not uncommon these day to hear people say that they "WFH"—that means "work from home" if you don't know the latest COVID-19 lingo.
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