Google Offers on Campus hotel special to lure workers back
Google is offering a new on-site hotel special in an attempt to encourage its employees to return to the office, but some workers are skeptical about the deal. According to CNBC, the company offers full-time employees the chance to book a room at an on-campus hotel in Mountain View for $99 per night. The special is being offered until September 30th and aims to facilitate the transition of Googlers to the hybrid workplace.
The promotion offered by the company is for business travel that has yet to be approved, and as a result, employees will not receive reimbursement for their stays. Instead, according to the special’s description, they will be required to use their personal credit cards. The description highlights the benefits of foregoing a morning commute for an extra hour of sleep and a stress-free start to the day. Guests can enjoy a delicious breakfast or squeeze in a workout before beginning work.
Google is offering a new on-site hotel special to its employees to encourage them to return to the office. However, some workers are skeptical about the deal. According to CNBC, the company allows full-time employees to book a room at an on-campus hotel in Mountain View for $99 per night. This special deal will be offered until September 30th and aims to facilitate the transition of Googlers to the hybrid workplace. The hotel offers a peaceful environment where employees can unwind after a long day at work. Additionally, they can enjoy a quiet evening on top of the rooftop deck or participate in fun local activities.
Last year, Google opened a hotel on its newer campus in Mountain View, California. The campus spans 42 acres and is situated next to NASA’s Ames Research Center. According to the company, this campus can accommodate up to 4,000 employees who work on Google’s ads products.
Real estate prices in the San Francisco Bay Area are notoriously high due in part to a scarcity of housing caused by long-standing zoning restrictions and strong demand, primarily from high-earning tech workers and executives employed in the surrounding tech industry. Mountain View, in particular, has a housing shortage and is home to numerous corporate offices, many of which are either owned or leased by Google.
According to a representative from Google, the company frequently offers promotions to its staff members to utilize the facilities and features available within the company’s premises.
Better Living
Several employees have shared their thoughts on a hotel deal in internal discussion forums. One meme that received much positive feedback featured a scene from the movie “Mean Girls,” where the main character declines an offer by saying, “No, thank you.” Another meme joked about the possibility of living on campus during the summer affecting one’s work-life balance. Employees pointed out that at $99 per night, the hotel would cost around $3,000 per month. Some employees found the hotel amenities appealing, while others thought the price was too high. One employee suggested that a rent of $3,000 per month for a fully furnished apartment with unlimited meals, paid utilities, and daily housekeeping would have been a better deal.
One possible explanation for the hotel’s decision to lower its rates is that it may be an attempt to fill vacant rooms, possibly due to corporate travel budgets being cut by Google.
Last year, Google initiated a three-day-a-week return-to-office plan for most of its employees, but several changes were made in response to spikes in Covid infection rates. However, many workers have hesitated to attend in person due to high housing costs near offices and the higher productivity they experience while working remotely. This trend has coincided with record profits for the company.
The company implemented stricter regulations in June, including incorporating office attendance into performance evaluations and monitoring badge data. The HR chief even contacted remote workers who had already been approved to work from home, encouraging them to reconsider and join their colleagues in the office.