4 ms·

Google employees angered by 'hypocritical' remote work policies

22 points by lladnar 5y ago

esel2k 5y ago
Working for a more traditional company I am quiet impressed how I or even some smaller less hyped companies seem to offer so much more flexibility than the tech giants. I can work from wherever I want and have for central europe a competitive salary (maybe not big tech but not far off). I got positions offered with statements as anywhere +/-2 hours timezone difference… It looks like big tech started the movement but other companies followed it until the end - because they have less salary to offer and more affraid that people would leave (who would leave big tech?!).
- syshum 5y ago
  >>who would leave big tech See I have always been the odd one, I have zero desire to work for "Big Tech", even if they offered me 2x my current salary + 100% remote i would not for for a FANG...
  - Nicksil 5y ago
    >See I have always been the odd one, I have zero desire to work for "Big Tech", even if they offered me 2x my current salary + 100% remote i would not for for a FANG... You aren't alone. There are dozens of us. Dozens!
CogitoCogito 5y ago
I think the bigger point is that everything is negotiable. Apparently Urs Hölzle has more negotiating power. Sure it's annoying on the other side, but it's not surprising. On a similar note, the last company I worked at said that no US employee but the CEO was allowed to have a contract. They were all just hired at will and would have two weeks. My co-worker (not the CEO) was hired and negotiated a 3 month contract contrary to this company-wide policy. He had leverage and he used it.
- aeternum 5y ago
  Totally agree that everything is about negotiation leverage. Even the employees making a big deal about Urs may be a form of that. By channeling collective outrage at this special treatment, the employees are also increasing their negotiation leverage. This press is makes it more expensive for Google to force employees back into the office.
sjg007 5y ago
I'm not sure why Google has to do a pay cut... it's pretty easy to just transfer someone and then give out below market raises for a few years if cost is really the main concern. My guess is that this a way for Google to promote some attrition. These companies are like cults in ways, they recruit younglings, feed, house and entertain them. They make all their friends at work etc... It can be quite traumatic to leave without having developed external networks and support systems.

22 points by lladnar 5y ago

Working for a more traditional company I am quiet impressed how I or even some smaller less hyped companies seem to offer so much more flexibility than the tech giants. I can work from wherever I want and have for central europe a competitive salary (maybe not big tech but not far off). I got positions offered with statements as anywhere +/-2 hours timezone difference… It looks like big tech started the movement but other companies followed it until the end - because they have less salary to offer and more affraid that people would leave (who would leave big tech?!).

syshum 5y ago
>>who would leave big tech See I have always been the odd one, I have zero desire to work for "Big Tech", even if they offered me 2x my current salary + 100% remote i would not for for a FANG...
- Nicksil 5y ago
  >See I have always been the odd one, I have zero desire to work for "Big Tech", even if they offered me 2x my current salary + 100% remote i would not for for a FANG... You aren't alone. There are dozens of us. Dozens!

CogitoCogito 5y ago

I think the bigger point is that everything is negotiable. Apparently Urs Hölzle has more negotiating power. Sure it's annoying on the other side, but it's not surprising. On a similar note, the last company I worked at said that no US employee but the CEO was allowed to have a contract. They were all just hired at will and would have two weeks. My co-worker (not the CEO) was hired and negotiated a 3 month contract contrary to this company-wide policy. He had leverage and he used it.

aeternum 5y ago
Totally agree that everything is about negotiation leverage. Even the employees making a big deal about Urs may be a form of that. By channeling collective outrage at this special treatment, the employees are also increasing their negotiation leverage. This press is makes it more expensive for Google to force employees back into the office.

sjg007 5y ago

I'm not sure why Google has to do a pay cut... it's pretty easy to just transfer someone and then give out below market raises for a few years if cost is really the main concern. My guess is that this a way for Google to promote some attrition. These companies are like cults in ways, they recruit younglings, feed, house and entertain them. They make all their friends at work etc... It can be quite traumatic to leave without having developed external networks and support systems.