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Speaking as an ex-googler, the 20% time is much more about encouraging side-projects. Time management is completely up to the employee - there is no set day for
by tensafefrogs 15y ago
Speaking as an ex-googler, the 20% time is much more about encouraging side-projects. Time management is completely up to the employee - there is no set day for 20% projects (which leads to the internal joke that it's really 120% time).
Some people choose to make time for their side projects, and some don't. The real benefit to 20% time is fostering the environment where employees are encouraged to help other areas of the company or to step outside of their day to day responsibilities.
This also promotes teamwork across teams, which is really important when you have so many different products that need to feel cohesive.
- pagekalisedown 15y agoAre people at Google really commonly working 80+ hour weeks like I read everywhere? Assuming that's a myth, why do people leave Google? It seems like a dream place to work.
- mcantor 15y agoWhy do people leave anywhere? If you can believe there's no such thing as "The One" in dating, for example, you can believe people have good reasons for leaving Google. It's all subjective, after all.
- agravier 15y agoI worked for Google as software engineer. Many colleagues left to build their own business, often a start-up. Contrary to the common idea that Google eats up talent, I believe that Google is a great incubator, in fact. Personally, I left to pursue doctorate studies. The working hours are not crazy for all, but it's all bout getting things done, and people feel responsible of their tasks, so there is also a significant part of WFH.