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Google is accelerating reopening of offices and putting limits on remote work

cnbc.com

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Re: Google is accelerating reopening of offices and putting limits on remote work

#91

Post by dividefuel »

rainyMammoth wrote: post #52

The typical googler is a 20 or 30-something that has close to zero life interest outside work. I would not expect them to want to stay remote as their social life revolves around Google. Sadly, from what I have seen most people with a good work life balance want to stay remote while people with few other life interests want absolutely go back to work. I predict that in a couple years this will be part of the culture…

On the other hand, some younger workers might see remote work as their best opportunity to ever afford a home. Older workers have had better chances to buy in the Bay Area, as they presumably had more time to accumulate wealth and could buy when prices are lower. Younger workers will need to save for a long time, even at FAANG salaries.

Re: Google is accelerating reopening of offices and putting limits on remote work

#92

Post by anonuser123456 »

azurezyq wrote: post #32
tyingq wrote: post #4

That's interesting, since my assumption is that Google would be fairly data driven. I'd be curious if Googlers feel like this is because they are really seeing reduced productivity, or if there's a different motivation.

Disclaimer: Googler managing a small product engineering team. I have to say WFH has a considerable impact on productivity. Coding is actually fine, but the problems are: 1. Designing over VC is very difficult, especially for something entirely new. 3~4 people working on a single whiteboard is far more efficient. 2. Personal relationships are difficult to grow, especially for newbies. Usually those things got grown v…

>Disclaimer: Googler >... Designing over VC is very difficult, especially for something entirely new. 3~4 people working on a single whiteboard is far more efficient.

That’s a heck of a sales pitch for Jamboard.

Re: Google is accelerating reopening of offices and putting limits on remote work

#93

Post by tyingq »

anonuser123456 wrote: post #92
azurezyq wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Disclaimer: Googler managing a small product engineering team. I have to say WFH has a considerable impact on productivity. Coding is actually fine, but the problems are: 1. Designing over VC is very difficult, especially for something entirely new. 3~4 people working on a single whiteboard is far more efficient. 2. Personal relationships are difficult to grow, especially for newbies. Usually those things got grown v…

>Disclaimer: Googler >... Designing over VC is very difficult, especially for something entirely new. 3~4 people working on a single whiteboard is far more efficient. That’s a heck of a sales pitch for Jamboard.

It just seems honest and pragmatic to me. There are nice collaboration tools, but there will always be a gap vs face-to-face. I think you just have to make other areas of remote work offset the lost value of that unfixable gap.

Re: Google is accelerating reopening of offices and putting limits on remote work

#94

Post by UncleMeat »

rainyMammoth wrote: post #52

The typical googler is a 20 or 30-something that has close to zero life interest outside work. I would not expect them to want to stay remote as their social life revolves around Google. Sadly, from what I have seen most people with a good work life balance want to stay remote while people with few other life interests want absolutely go back to work. I predict that in a couple years this will be part of the culture…

My whole team is basically dads in our 30s. Most of my broader colleagues have fully realized lives outside of work. Your stereotype doesn’t ring true to me.

Re: Google is accelerating reopening of offices and putting limits on remote work

#95

Post by UncleMeat »

swat535 wrote: post #81
clpm4j wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd actually say the typical Googler is a 30 or 40-something married person with a kid or two.

If you're 30-40 married with kids, you don't have the time to do leetcode for 6 months to pass the interviews..

Some people leetcode for ages to get lucky in interviews. But loads of people just interviewed and are highly skilled and qualified. I think I did a week of prep ahead of my interviews.

Re: Google is accelerating reopening of offices and putting limits on remote work

#96

Post by Aeolun »

eximius wrote: post #79
Aeolun wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A hybrid model with a maximum of 14 days a year is not a hybrid model at all. That’s the real news for me. After the pandemic is over Google will go back to a full-onsite team.

My understanding is that's not the case, that the 14 day limit (which I haven't heard about, actually) is for only WFH full time over an extended period.

That’s certainly possible, but not what the article writes:

> for a maximum of 14 days remote per year

I don’t know how to make ‘14 days in a row’ out of that :)

Re: Google is accelerating reopening of offices and putting limits on remote work

#97

Post by UncleMeat »

gher-shyu3i wrote: post #63
tootie wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm a senior manager and also a hardcore introvert. In my many years of office work I would actively avoid having lunch around anyone from the office as much as possible. Lunch is my only alone time when I'm crammed in an office all day.

How do you balance being a manager, a position that requires heavily dealing and engaging with people, with being an introvert?

Introvert manager here.

Work is hard. Dealing with people is tiring, but I am also skilled at it and it is tremendously fulfilling to help people grow and achieve their personal goals. Some days I really really don't want to have my 1:1s, but that is okay. Being an introvert doesn't mean that I hate interacting with people. It just means that it is somewhat tiring.

Re: Google is accelerating reopening of offices and putting limits on remote work

#98

Post by gregkerzhner »

bilal4hmed wrote: post #55
gregkerzhner wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Curious, do the members of your team have activities, hobbies, and relationships they are involved with outside of work? From what I have seen the folks itching to get back to the office are the ones that don't have many outlets outside of work. On the other hand, for many of us who do have significant non work passions (rock climbing for me) as well as social circles around these activities appreciate remote work be…

We all have hobbies, relationships etc and there is no doubt all those things have improved so much. Not having our long Texas commutes has been great. People with kids love the extra time esp for those that are college bound. I am loving the time with my family and other hobby projects. To give you some background, we are an IT shop for an Energy co. so there is a big chunk of our people who have to be at work, phys…

I think small teams, one on one collaboration, and interesting projects are key.

It’s hard to get to know folks when sitting on a big zoom call, but I find working one on one works well for developing a bond.

Once you spend many hours over many months working closely with someone, a bond develops and there is plenty of opportunity to get to know them along the way.

In fact, you can do this just over slack - spend enough time hanging in a chat and people’s personalities are bound to come out.

To be fair, you may be less likely to make a very close friend with a remote employee. But a friendly, productive working relationship is certainly easy to develop, and that’s all that’s necessary for most teams to function well.

This strategy probably wouldn’t work with big teams where folks float in and out, or for roles where you have to meet new people all the time.

Re: Google is accelerating reopening of offices and putting limits on remote work

#99

Post by UncleMeat »

Aeolun wrote: post #96
eximius wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My understanding is that's not the case, that the 14 day limit (which I haven't heard about, actually) is for only WFH full time over an extended period.

That’s certainly possible, but not what the article writes: > for a maximum of 14 days remote per year I don’t know how to make ‘14 days in a row’ out of that :)

The article is poorly researched and is not explaining the 14 day thing correctly. I'm sure that the actual email will be leaked at some point but since it is listed as internal only, just know that it isn't what is described in the article.

Re: Google is accelerating reopening of offices and putting limits on remote work

#100

Post by UncleMeat »

rllearneratwork wrote: post #53

"a maximum of 14 days remote per year" -- WHAT? They need to apply for that?

It's not true. The article is not correctly describing the policy. I don't know if the journalist just didn't get the entire email from their source or if they put this out too fast but what is written in the article isn't correct.
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