Google employees are expressing their dissatisfaction with the company’s strict return-to-office policies through Memegen, Google’s internal forum. CNBC reported that employees feel like they are being treated like schoolchildren and have flooded the forum with their grievances. This backlash comes after Google HR boss Fiona Cicconi sent out a memo stating that the company will crack down on employees who do not comply with the office attendance requirement. Managers will have access to data on employee badge swipes, and poor attendance records will now impact individual performance reviews. Additionally, reminders will be sent to consistently absent employees, and permanent remote work will only be approved for future hires under exceptional circumstances. One popular meme on Memegen expresses the sentiment “Check my work, not my badge.” In response to these policies, Google has reduced some of its famous office perks. Furthermore, YouTube employees humorously mocked their bosses for virtually attending an all-hands meeting, which outlined the updated return-to-office plans. One meme featured the character Leonard Hofstadter from “The Big Bang Theory” along with the quote, “What are you looking at? You’ve never seen a hypocrite before?”
Google spokesperson Ryan Lamont clarified that employee badge swipe data is aggregated for managers and not provided in individual reports for each employee. Lamont stated, “Now that we’ve fully transitioned to the hybrid work week, company leaders can see reports showing how their teams are adopting the hybrid work model.”
These stricter policies surrounding the return-to-office have created tension within Google as the company aims to cut costs and focus on advanced artificial intelligence under the leadership of CEO Sundar Pichai. In February, employees protested in New York City and California after the company laid off 12,000 workers, representing about 6% of its workforce. These layoffs were the largest in the company’s history. Following the layoffs, Google also reduced some of its highly-regarded office perks, including on-site “micro kitchens” that provided free food and snacks. Recently, employees were disappointed to learn that Pichai earned a $226 million salary last year before the layoffs, leading to comparisons of the boss to the “Shrek” character Lord Farquaad.
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