Google CEO Sundar Pichai is implementing a new strategy to entice employees back to the office by offering a special on-site hotel deal. However, not all workers are convinced that it’s a good offer.
According to CNBC, the company is allowing full-time employees to book a room at an on-campus hotel in Mountain View for $99 a night as part of a “Summer Special.” The special will run until the end of September and aims to facilitate the transition to a hybrid work environment.
It’s important to note that since this promotion is for unapproved business travel, the company won’t reimburse employees for their stays. Instead, employees are required to use their personal credit cards, as stated in the special’s description.
The promotional material highlights the benefits of avoiding the daily commute and having an additional hour of sleep in the morning. It also emphasizes the convenience of enjoying a delicious breakfast or a quick workout before starting the workday. Additionally, employees are encouraged to make use of the rooftop deck and explore local activities during their leisure time.
The Google-owned hotel is located on a newer campus in Mountain View, adjacent to NASA’s Ames Research Center. It has a capacity to accommodate 4,000 employees working on ads products, and it opened last year.
The San Francisco Bay Area faces high real estate costs due to limited housing supply and increased demand from tech workers and executives. Mountain View, in particular, lacks housing options and is primarily occupied by corporate offices, many of which are owned or leased by Google.
A Google spokesperson mentioned that the company regularly offers specials for employees to take advantage of their spaces and amenities.
Despite the promotion, some employees have expressed their reservations in internal discussion forums. Memes shared within these discussions humorously displayed skepticism towards the hotel deal. Some employees noted that $99 a night would amount to approximately $3,000 a month. One employee contrasted the hotel amenities with their apartment, stating that they paid more for fewer amenities but preferred their living situation. Another employee suggested that a lower nightly rate, around $60, would make the hotel deal more appealing. Others shared hypothetical conditions that would make the offer more attractive, such as all-inclusive rent, furnished accommodations, meals, utilities, and daily housekeeping.
One employee speculated that the hotel deal might be an attempt to mitigate the hotel’s vacancy rate after Google reduced corporate travel budgets.
In summary, Google’s CEO is attempting to encourage employees to return to the physical office by offering a discounted hotel stay. While some employees remain skeptical, citing factors such as high housing costs and increased productivity while working remotely, the company hopes that this special will incentivize the transition. However, the effectiveness of this strategy remains to be seen.
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