Google tells its employees to share desks and alternate days with their desk mates as Google cited real estate efficiency as the reason. According to the model, it will be applied from next quarter in Google cloud’s five largest US locations, which include Kirkland, New York City, San Francisco, and Sunnyvale in California.
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Why downsizing the office ?
The decision was made to establish a continued investment in the growth of Google cloud. Internal FAQ was shared with employees and it also shared that employees also have to come on other days. It was also mentioned that the decision was taken by using internal data and it is also on the office return pattern.
Even being the highest growth area for the company, the cloud unit takes a quarter of Google’s workspace which is not profitable for the company as the profit is been invested in the business. The company is downsizing its real estate footprint with broad cost-cutting measures. However, it has not mentioned currently about the region and building plans for downsizing.
Similar Situations
The new seating arrangement is known as ‘CLOE’, which is a cloud office revolution. Due to the economic slowdown faced by tech companies, they are taking extreme steps. Even Twitter asks their employees to bring their toilet paper and now Google is requesting the cloud employees to share the desks in the interest of real estate efficiency.
The cloud office revolution represents the collaboration of pre-pandemic with great flexibility. Therefore, it is aiming to make more efficient use of its resources.
How will this benefit Google?
According to Alphabet’s chief financial officer, Ruth Porat, it will allow the company to invest in key priorities which will make long-term growth of the company. However, it was not informed the executives of the company what were the actual key priorities.
Due to this, many employees posted on social media about the layoff , and in the internal meeting, Alphabet’s executives disclosed that the company provided long tenure and package as a reward to the workers.
While Google is known for being a highly desirable employer with many benefits and perks, there are disadvantages too!
Highly competitive environment: It is known for hiring some of the best and brightest minds in the industry, which means that the work environment can be highly competitive. This can create pressure to constantly perform at a high level.
Long working hours: It has a culture of working long hours and employees are often expected to work beyond their regular office hours.
High standards of performance: It has high expectations for its employees and it can be challenging to meet these expectations consistently.
Limited autonomy: Some employees may find that they have limited autonomy and are required to follow strict procedures and protocols.
Lack of work-life balance: The fast-paced and demanding environment at Google can make it difficult to achieve a good work-life balance.
Limited upward mobility: With such a large and talented workforce, it can be challenging for employees to move up the ranks and advance in their careers at Google.
Political issues: Like any large company, Google is not immune to political issues and controversies that can impact the work environment and employee morale.
Conclusion
It’s worth noting that not all employees will experience these disadvantages, and many may find that the benefits of working at Google far outweigh any potential drawbacks. Overall, working at Google can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience for those who are passionate about innovation, collaboration, and making a positive impact on the world.
