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Google mandates workers back to Silicon Valley, other offices from April 4

reuters.com

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Re: Google mandates workers back to Silicon Valley, other offices from April 4

#71

Post by floren »

A few months back I was talking to a manager at [huge established software company]. He was making the case that obviously anyone who has moved away from the Bay Area should have their pay cut. He personally has not been in the office for a single day since spring 2020, but since he telecommutes from Berkeley rather than Omaha, he sees no reason to cut his own pay.

Later that same day I spoke to someone who's managing at [online payment processing company]. Shortly after bragging that he frequently spends only 2 hours a day actually working, he expressed that full-time remote work will never work out because you can't tell if someone is actually contributing. I refrained from pointing out that ICs actually have targets to meet and code to produce, and that you can put them on a PIP if they fail to meet expectations, while he's busy proving that management can apparently get by just phoning in to the occasional meeting.

edit: company names changed because it feels a little weird to call them out like that, I dunno

Re: Google mandates workers back to Silicon Valley, other offices from April 4

#72

Post by somehnguy »

cokeandpepsi wrote: post #56
jdlyga wrote: post #22

I work for a large company, and my team has changed so much since before covid. Before Covid: 5 people in the same New York office, 1 remote in Europe Today: 2 in New York, 2 in California, 1 in Ohio, 1 in Europe There is no single office to return to. Though we could meet up with other coworkers on different teams and projects. But in essence we've become a remote team. Has anyone else's teams become geographically…

that's just for now, shelf-life for most employees is like 2 years anyway.. a few years of hiring should sort out the problem

What problem?

I'm full remote with teammates in various states across the US. We have no problems to speak of related to our locations.

I refuse to ever work in an office again assuming my role doesn't require me to physically be at a location for reasons other than 'we want you to be'.

Re: Google mandates workers back to Silicon Valley, other offices from April 4

#73

Post by rr808 »

infamouscow wrote: post #4

After two years of not being in the office, I don't see how anyone can justify going into the office without putting themselves into a quagmire of hypocrisy and contradiction.

I'm going to strangle my wife and kids if I have to stay in my apartment with them another two years.

Re: Google mandates workers back to Silicon Valley, other offices from April 4

#74

Post by gitowiec »

That's good to be back in the office. For me it's only a week to start feeling bad. Loneliness, the same walls I live with family, no colleagues around to talk to. That's not for me. Sometimes I prefer to work from home, because I need to run some errands, from home I have better control. Everybody should have an option, or possibility to work from home some days in a week. But nothing replace morning coffee in the kitchen with colleagues!

Re: Google mandates workers back to Silicon Valley, other offices from April 4

#75

Post by googlerx »

c7DJTLrn wrote: post #3

Do Googlers mind working in the office much? They get plenty of free meals/snacks/beverages, great equipment, and great salary allowing them to live close to the office and pay for childcare if needed. I can't see the rest of the industry moving in the direction of returning to the office, because they don't have these things.

The perks are great, as is getting to chat with people face to face.

But the open office is just fucking terrible for getting actual work done.

Re: Google mandates workers back to Silicon Valley, other offices from April 4

#76

Post by ramesh31 »

qntty wrote: post #12
jefb wrote: post #5

Mandates? "Since last June, Google has approved nearly 14,000 employees globally to transfer to a new location or go fully remote, Casey said. About 15% of applications have been denied, he added." "Employees not prepared to return April 4 also can seek a remote-work extension, Google said."

I guess like most companies, return to office means show your hand see if you have enough power to convince them otherwise.

Made my move to permanent remote last Fall, when it was becoming pretty clear that return to office was on the horizon. Sure enough, we're going back company wide starting this week. Really glad I did it while I could. I will never go back to a 9-5 daily commute ever again.

Re: Google mandates workers back to Silicon Valley, other offices from April 4

#77

Post by jonas21 »

onychomys wrote: post #43

I work for an extremely famous hospital in a small city in Minnesota, and we've gone 100% remote forever in large part because then the hospital doesn't have to pay for heating/lighting/internet/etc for all of the buildings that used to be full of us. Eventually they'll probably sell the offices entirely. I'm not sure why Google thinks it's economically worth it to have people come back in, I'd imagine the savings mu…

I hope you don't mean the entire hospital has gone remote. I'd not be happy if my surgeon was working from home.

Re: Google mandates workers back to Silicon Valley, other offices from April 4

#78

Post by adonovan »

gsich wrote: post #6
c7DJTLrn wrote: post #3

Do Googlers mind working in the office much? They get plenty of free meals/snacks/beverages, great equipment, and great salary allowing them to live close to the office and pay for childcare if needed. I can't see the rest of the industry moving in the direction of returning to the office, because they don't have these things.

Commute sucks. Anything above 30min for one way is unbearable.

I used to complain about my subway commute, but when it stopped I found I missed reading books for 30m twice a day, or alternatively running to work. These activities formed a clear boundary to each workday that I have found hard to replace without a commute.

Re: Google mandates workers back to Silicon Valley, other offices from April 4

#79

Post by paxys »

c7DJTLrn wrote: post #3

Do Googlers mind working in the office much? They get plenty of free meals/snacks/beverages, great equipment, and great salary allowing them to live close to the office and pay for childcare if needed. I can't see the rest of the industry moving in the direction of returning to the office, because they don't have these things.

Different people have different priorities. It's usually the younger employees who prioritize free meals and ping pong over flexible work schedules and spending more time with family.

Re: Google mandates workers back to Silicon Valley, other offices from April 4

#80

Post by hinkley »

advisedwang wrote: post #58
paxys wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A mandate which allows temporary exceptions is still a mandate.

If you apply to go fully remote, that's not temporary.

Who approved that application? Your old manager?
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