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Googler opinions are my own. I'd disagree at least a little here. Google has been surveying their staff about what they want to do after the pandemic is over,

by kyrra 6y ago

Googler opinions are my own. I'd disagree at least a little here. Google has been surveying their staff about what they want to do after the pandemic is over, see this twitter thread where Google published some of it's data: https://mobile.twitter.com/lifeatgoogle/status/1308529118531563520 https://mobile.twitter.com/lifeatgoogle/status/1308529118531... People are split on what they want. Maybe people could be better trained to wfh, but some of us just prefer an office. While I am likely more productive at home (even with 3 kids there) I see that knowledge sharing with a large team is just harder (missing that hallway conversation, or seeing someone at a whiteboard and just learning random things).

mattm 6y ago
That doesn't seem split at all. The vast majority don't seem to want to be in the office everyday. They disregarded those survey results though for their decision. The vast majority prefer not to come to the office everyday. Google says you can only work from home slightly more than 1 day per month. If they took the survey into account, it would have been the opposite - you're only required to come into the office 14 days per year.
DataJunkie 6y ago
Oh no, please don't start with the magical hallway conversations. I've never had a worthwhile conversation in a hallway or microkitchen, ever. This argument needs to die.
- browningstreet 6y ago
  Agreed -- I haven't worked on a project in the last ten years that didn't have some significant portion of relevant staff remotely located. I'm not a developer, but I don't work with a group of people located in the same building, so all projects are de facto pretty remote heavy.
- kyrra 6y ago
  My previous 2 companies it rarely happened, if ever. But it has happened a lot with me at Google. But I also think it's a property of the teams I am on. Other teams it doesn't seem to happen as often. Having whiteboards around, I will see people talking about certain things or explaining some new system, and it's easy to jump in. Maybe these could be considered impromptu meetings, but they still have been great for me.
- Proven 6y ago
  I see. Because you never had one, it must be impossible Or maybe you can't be trusted or there is another reason.

by kyrra 6y ago

mattm 6y ago

That doesn't seem split at all. The vast majority don't seem to want to be in the office everyday. They disregarded those survey results though for their decision. The vast majority prefer not to come to the office everyday. Google says you can only work from home slightly more than 1 day per month. If they took the survey into account, it would have been the opposite - you're only required to come into the office 14 days per year.

DataJunkie 6y ago

Oh no, please don't start with the magical hallway conversations. I've never had a worthwhile conversation in a hallway or microkitchen, ever. This argument needs to die.

browningstreet 6y ago
Agreed -- I haven't worked on a project in the last ten years that didn't have some significant portion of relevant staff remotely located. I'm not a developer, but I don't work with a group of people located in the same building, so all projects are de facto pretty remote heavy.
kyrra 6y ago
My previous 2 companies it rarely happened, if ever. But it has happened a lot with me at Google. But I also think it's a property of the teams I am on. Other teams it doesn't seem to happen as often. Having whiteboards around, I will see people talking about certain things or explaining some new system, and it's easy to jump in. Maybe these could be considered impromptu meetings, but they still have been great for me.
Proven 6y ago
I see. Because you never had one, it must be impossible Or maybe you can't be trusted or there is another reason.