> Google [...] would reduce the pay of those who choose to work remotely or move farther from the office.

Sample size of 1 here: Google approved my working remotely in a small town outside a major city at the same compensation as working in the office in that major city. So no pay cut.

I think there's a game of telephone going on with the facts in these articles:

"could see different changes in pay" -> could lose money" -> "would reduce pay"