Earlier quoted context omitted.
Directors might get to work remotely. Good for you. I hope you enjoy Palm Springs while your reports are trapped on 101. Mere Developers are essentially never permitted to work remotely long-term. Google would rather lose someone valuable like Tim Bray to a major competitor than allow him to do so. If you're a global subject expert like Professor Hinton, maybe you'll be accommodated, but you dare don't mislead people…
Probably more dependent on one's immediate manager and/or chain than on company wide policy. Personally, I would not want to report to someone who spends the majority of time remote. But maybe this person is a really great boss.
Why? There is really little to no difference if person is in next cubicle or video chat away.