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Google asks some employees to share desks amid office downsizing

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Re: Google asks some employees to share desks amid office downsizing

#181

Post by [deleted] »

int_19h wrote: post #132
ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I remember visiting MS (Redmond), in the 1990s (It was at the "Longhorn" launch, if that helps date it). A friend of mine, worked in one of the nearby buildings, and took me to his office (He was doing documentation, or something for Encarta). I was struck by the narrow, dark, corridors, and the small, windowless, offices. My friend said that all MS engineers had a private office. I have since been told that the buil…

Microsoft started to transition to open layout company-wide sometime in the mid-10s. Depending on the org, some team at Microsoft still had private offices for their devs as late as 2017.

[deleted]

Re: Google asks some employees to share desks amid office downsizing

#182

Post by Ancalagon »

timeless102 wrote: post #168
Ancalagon wrote: post #126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Makes perfect sense if they’re trying to downsize without paying severance/unemployment.

If they don't come it and don't resign themselves, then I assume google would fire them in which case they would get severance? Is that how it works? It's only an issue if the people who wfh resign then they would not get severance/unemployment?

In the case of not coming in it’s kind of a gray area right now. Some stipulate failing to come to the office would be a failure to perform and so the employee would be fired without severance but still be able to collect unemployment.

People who resign would be quitting on their own accord and would not be able to receive neither a severance nor unemployment. That’s why resignations are probably Google’s ultimate goal.

Re: Google asks some employees to share desks amid office downsizing

#183

Post by 1letterunixname »

Meta did the same thing company-wide (except Menlo Park).

It didn't matter if there were surplus desk space or not.

It sends a message of collective punishment of the workforce, pressure to shift the burden of providing a workspace onto the employee, and blithe non-concern for anyone who needs routine.

Perks are declining as well. Snacks are getting worse and not being stocked. Meals aren't what they used to be.

Company services are also in decline: help Desk offices closed permanently.

It also looks foreshadowing more layoffs and real estate consolidation.

Re: Google asks some employees to share desks amid office downsizing

#184

Post by benatkin »

jefftk wrote: post #180
benatkin wrote: post #173

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That isn't shorter though because it doesn't have a.co - and it doesn't look like it works like the google one did or does, or the github one used to work I think the tool used to get the a.co put the ref= there and there probably isn't a way to turn it off because it's just a simple thing like copying the link.

It isn't shorter, but it's clear, doesn't include a redirect, and is short enough for almost any purpose.

Yeah, I would use it. Not sure if the person I replied to would, though.

Re: Google asks some employees to share desks amid office downsizing

#185

Post by CamperBob2 »

tchalla wrote: post #2

> “Most Googlers will now share a desk with one other Googler,” the internal document stated, noting they expect employees to come in on alternate days so they're not at the same desk on the same day. “Through the matching process, they will agree on a basic desk setup and establish norms with their desk partner and teams to ensure a positive experience in the new shared environment.” If only, there was an easier sol…

Wow, I thought they were talking about two people sitting at one desk at the same time. This is insane. "Matching process for agreeing on a basic desk setup and establishing norms?"

BRB, I have something I need to do over at schwab.com. I'll be back shortly.

Re: Google asks some employees to share desks amid office downsizing

#186

Post by wkat4242 »

scarface74 wrote: post #139
gwoplock wrote: post #120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not OP, but for me, it's the isolation. I wouldn't quite call it miserable unless I can't go out. I lasted only a few days into WFH for COVID before I went to live with my parents until I was forced back to the office. Just a few weeks ago I was snowed in for a week and I was about to crawl up the walls.

If I were single, I can see how that would make a difference. When I was forced to both work from home and not go to the gym and hang out with friends after work and I was single a decade ago during bad weather, that was miserable.

I'm single and I love WFH and I avoid the office as much as possible, coming less than required. Especially now with the stupid hotdesking. I actually have more time to socialize now People are different.

Re: Google asks some employees to share desks amid office downsizing

#187

Post by seanmcdirmid »

carom wrote: post #62
shmatt wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd work from a toilet stall for a Google L6 comp band I doubt any Googlers actually care about this stuff

I used to say something similar to this but then I worked at Google. It turns out I care a lot more about working on interesting problems than I do about fat checks.

> It turns out I care a lot more about working on interesting problems than I do about fat checks.

It is definitely possible to get a fat check and work on interesting problems at Google. But you need to be really picky with what team you work for (obviously, not so easy ATM).

Re: Google asks some employees to share desks amid office downsizing

#188

Post by seanmcdirmid »

haunter wrote: post #133
scarface74 wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How is WFH miserable and if it is, it’s your home, can’t you make it more comfortable?

Not OP but WFH to me is like living at my workplace. There is no boundary anymore between work and home. This where I work, this is where I live. This gone with WFH. I much rather prefer the physical separation of office and my private home.

WFH would have sucked when I was living in Beijing (I'm not sure how my friends have managed for the past 2 years). It is much better in Seattle, even though the space is more expensive here. I've got my own office, so does my wife (for now, our kid wants to sleep in our room anyways).

Re: Google asks some employees to share desks amid office downsizing

#189

Post by seanmcdirmid »

kridsdale1 wrote: post #151
acchow wrote: post #121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When you get there and find yourself with other companies clambering to hire you, with better perks and pay, you may think differently.

Just got hired as a Google L6. When does this happen?

Amazon and Meta used to send me weekly emails. But oddly enough they haven't done that in the last couple of months.

Re: Google asks some employees to share desks amid office downsizing

#190

Post by wkat4242 »

c4mpute wrote: post #106
malkia wrote: post #82

I don't remember when I've read this anecdote, I think was about Sun and X11 (or the equivalent), where employees can use the first free deskt they see and they can login from that "dumb" terminal to their actual machine (Could've been some other company, not Sun) - wonder if anyone remembers it (was it mentioned here on hny?)

X-Terminals were a thing before SUN, but SUN had very nice ThinClients called SunRay that could "HotDesk". Your session was tied to a smartcard, as soon as you plugged that in, your session appeared on that workplace. Pull the Smartcard, go somewhere else, plug it in, there was your session. Very cool and almost instant, as opposed to the supposed "alternative" our windows guys suggested, which was smartcard login to…

Sun Rays were indeed very cool. A bit like the thin client VDIs of today, but easier to use IMO. The smartcard was really handy. As always Sun was way ahead of their time.

I still have some SunRays I was hoping to use for something but I never found a good use for them :(

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