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Google's push to bring employees back to offices, some say they'll rather quit

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Re: Google's push to bring employees back to offices, some say they'll rather quit

#121

It would be interesting to know the median commute time for those who say they will quit or not. For me it is just insane even thinking about going to go back to 2h commute each day. I don't even know why I considered that OK.

I only have a 15 min drive to work, and while working from home makes a few things easier, like picking up my daughter from daycare, the benefits of the office easily compete with the 30 - 35 minute commute. I get better working conditions, better coffee, better lunch and I feel like I’m not alone during difficult tasks. Ideally I’d like to work from home one or two days week, and be at the office the remaining days.

I also have about 40 minutes of commute per day. However I get better working conditions, lunch, etc, when I work from home. Not to mention that it's much less stressful, and I can go lay down in my bed for a couple of minutes if I want to. I also do some chores during breaks, which saves me even more time at the end of the day.

Re: Google's push to bring employees back to offices, some say they'll rather quit

#122

It would be interesting to know the median commute time for those who say they will quit or not. For me it is just insane even thinking about going to go back to 2h commute each day. I don't even know why I considered that OK.

I really want to know this too. The traffic in the bay area is so awful and housing is so expensive that I imagine a lot of people are just brutalized by the commute, at least in the mountain view office (dunno what its like elsewhere). Even if you have access to the shuttle its still wasted time that a person will never get back and I think covid made that obvious to many people who might've just accepted the commute blindly (I did pre covid).

Re: Google's push to bring employees back to offices, some say they'll rather quit

#123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While technically correct, I think you are dramatically overestimating the difficulty ex-googlers have in getting a new job.

A new job that carries same prestige and benefits?

Depends on how highly they value WFH. Another job might have higher "benefits". It's all relative to the persons desires.

Re: Google's push to bring employees back to offices, some say they'll rather quit

#124
post #8

"I'll quit!" they say. It's about as empty a threat as telling the customer service person that you'll sue the company.

I quit Google last month specifically because I didn't want to move back to MTV in September.

Re: Google's push to bring employees back to offices, some say they'll rather quit

#125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

GOOG folks, FB is recruiting stressing on "remote". Call a recruiter today!

But then you’d have to work for Facebook… cringe

We're talking about Google employees here. Squint your eyes and they look like the same company.

Re: Google's push to bring employees back to offices, some say they'll rather quit

#126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But then you’d have to work for Facebook… cringe

Quality of life improvement when you work remote is several fold higher. You have to experience it. I've been working remote (consulting) for about 4 years now. My wife has done it about 1/2 her career. We live in sunny SoCal (expensive, but very tolerable when you don't have to get on the freeways). Take care of No. 1 first. That is you. GOOG folks, please don't cringe at FB. There is no difference.

i've been doing remote consulting for over 10 years and i wouldn't go back to an office even if a company offered me doubled what i earn.

no traffic in the morning, being able to go for walks in the middle of the day, home cooked meals every day, no alarms in the morning (biggest plus imo).

Re: Google's push to bring employees back to offices, some say they'll rather quit

#127
I’ve told myself I won’t go back to the Bay Area. SF is a joke and the peninsula is ridiculously overpriced even on a tech salary. I’ve loved the last year living outside of the Bay Area.

On the other hand, the thought of whiteboard interviews at this stage in my life or taking a massive pay cut to work at a local company is not enticing either. So we’ll see what happens in a couple months when forced to decide. I realize the path of least resistance might win out for me and others.

Re: Google's push to bring employees back to offices, some say they'll rather quit

#128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But then you’d have to work for Facebook… cringe

Quality of life improvement when you work remote is several fold higher. You have to experience it. I've been working remote (consulting) for about 4 years now. My wife has done it about 1/2 her career. We live in sunny SoCal (expensive, but very tolerable when you don't have to get on the freeways). Take care of No. 1 first. That is you. GOOG folks, please don't cringe at FB. There is no difference.

Personal opinion: Google carefully treads the gray lines of legality and morals/ethics. Facebook leadership, on the other hand, decided a long time ago that they care about legality only. They seem very proud of that decision, too.

Re: Google's push to bring employees back to offices, some say they'll rather quit

#129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But then you’d have to work for Facebook… cringe

Quality of life improvement when you work remote is several fold higher. You have to experience it. I've been working remote (consulting) for about 4 years now. My wife has done it about 1/2 her career. We live in sunny SoCal (expensive, but very tolerable when you don't have to get on the freeways). Take care of No. 1 first. That is you. GOOG folks, please don't cringe at FB. There is no difference.

Getting ~11 hours of my life back from commutes a week alone is worth it. That's almost a full day! (assuming 16h wake cycles)

Would i prefer in-office if i didn't have to commute? Maybe. The downsides are just not worth the upsides, though. To me.

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