4 ms·

That exactly was my first thought...'What's in it for Google?'. Not doubting their good intentions, but whenever any corporate portrays an altruistic thing, i

by sidcool 12y ago

That exactly was my first thought...'What's in it for Google?'. Not doubting their good intentions, but whenever any corporate portrays an altruistic thing, it rings the skeptic bell in my head. Good move Google.

bostik 12y ago
I don't understand the downvote, because I can easily think of non-altruistic reasons for this move. 1) I have no doubt Google already tracks their contractors' staff turnover. Every industry has institutional knowledge, and if staff turnover is high, not enough of the knowledge gets transferred. If the prestige of being a Googler is enough to counter that trend, it may be well worth a lot more than the monetary cost. 2) Assuming the detail about "gbus" access is true, the security guards traveling on the buses will have personal incentives for keeping them safer. 3) This move may attract the kinds of people Google wants for their physical security. (Related to point #1.) So while Google may well be riding the social awareness wave for PR purposes, there are bound to be real corporate reasons behind the move too.
- wavegeek 12y ago
  You might find it also makes their stats look better ie % African American employees. Don't be evil.* *Unless it's profitable.
Alex3917 12y ago
Avoiding lawsuits for racial discrimination.
- frostmatthew 12y ago
  If you're suggesting what I think you are (that they're doing this for a bump in their diversity numbers) it should be noted their diversity report[1] breaks it down by tech and non-tech. [1] http://www.google.com/diversity/at-google.html#tab=tech http://www.google.com/diversity/at-google.html#tab=tech
  - 001sky 12y ago
    non-tech black = 3% black national % of security guards = 20% every little bit helps I guess
ufmace 12y ago
Part of the reason may be a PR thing - they want to improve their image so that there are less people, say, protesting their busses and employees.
001sky 12y ago
This is a cheap way to buy "token minority positions" and increase the appearance of diversity. Its a smart, if somewhat cynical move. http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/11/the-workforce-is-even-more-divided-by-race-than-you-think/281175/ http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/11/the-work... "Blacks, who make up just 11 percent of the workforce, account for more than a third of home health aides and about 25 percent of both security guards and bus drivers—rather low paying jobs."

by sidcool 12y ago

bostik 12y ago

I don't understand the downvote, because I can easily think of non-altruistic reasons for this move. 1) I have no doubt Google already tracks their contractors' staff turnover. Every industry has institutional knowledge, and if staff turnover is high, not enough of the knowledge gets transferred. If the prestige of being a Googler is enough to counter that trend, it may be well worth a lot more than the monetary cost. 2) Assuming the detail about "gbus" access is true, the security guards traveling on the buses will have personal incentives for keeping them safer. 3) This move may attract the kinds of people Google wants for their physical security. (Related to point #1.) So while Google may well be riding the social awareness wave for PR purposes, there are bound to be real corporate reasons behind the move too.

wavegeek 12y ago
You might find it also makes their stats look better ie % African American employees. Don't be evil.* *Unless it's profitable.

Alex3917 12y ago

Avoiding lawsuits for racial discrimination.

frostmatthew 12y ago
If you're suggesting what I think you are (that they're doing this for a bump in their diversity numbers) it should be noted their diversity report[1] breaks it down by tech and non-tech. [1] http://www.google.com/diversity/at-google.html#tab=tech http://www.google.com/diversity/at-google.html#tab=tech
- 001sky 12y ago
  non-tech black = 3% black national % of security guards = 20% every little bit helps I guess

ufmace 12y ago

Part of the reason may be a PR thing - they want to improve their image so that there are less people, say, protesting their busses and employees.

001sky 12y ago

This is a cheap way to buy "token minority positions" and increase the appearance of diversity. Its a smart, if somewhat cynical move. http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/11/the-workforce-is-even-more-divided-by-race-than-you-think/281175/ http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/11/the-work... "Blacks, who make up just 11 percent of the workforce, account for more than a third of home health aides and about 25 percent of both security guards and bus drivers—rather low paying jobs."