Google is introducing an enticing on-site hotel special in an attempt to entice employees back to their physical offices, but not all workers are convinced it's a favourable offer. The company's full-time employees can avail themselves of a $99 per night stay at an on-campus hotel located in Mountain View, as part of what Google is calling a "Summer Special." This promotion, slated to run until September 30, is aimed at facilitating the transition to a hybrid work environment for its staff, according to information seen by CNBC.
Despite the attractive deal, the company won't reimburse the stays since they are considered unapproved business travel. Employees are required to use their personal credit cards to book the rooms. Google's pitch for the hotel special emphasises the perks of avoiding the morning commute, gaining an extra hour of sleep, and enjoying a seamless breakfast or workout before work starts.
The on-campus hotel, which Google owns, is part of a newer campus in Mountain View, California, opened just last year. Spanning 42 acres and situated near NASA's Ames Research Center, the campus has the capacity to accommodate 4,000 employees working on the company's advertising products.
The San Francisco Bay Area faces soaring real estate costs, partly due to limited housing supply from zoning restrictions spanning decades and high demand primarily from well-paid tech professionals and executives. Mountain View, in particular, suffers from housing shortages, with vast stretches of corporate offices owned or leased by Google.
Google clarified that it routinely offers special deals to employees for utilising its spaces and amenities. Nevertheless, some employees have voiced their thoughts on the hotel offer through internal discussions, as per CNBC. Some pointed out that the cost of staying at the hotel for a month would be around $3,000, which might not be economical for some.
While some recognised the allure of the hotel's amenities, others still considered it too pricey compared to other options. They expressed that a more reasonable rate around $60 per night might be more appealing.
Speculation arose that this hotel promotion might be a strategy to fill vacant rooms, as Google had previously reduced corporate travel budgets. The company has been grappling with its return-to-office plans, which have been subject to changes due to fluctuating Covid infection rates. Despite implementing three-day office attendance per week, many employees continued to prefer remote work due to high housing costs near the offices and improved productivity while working from home.
In June, Google tightened its policies further, incorporating office attendance into performance evaluations and tracking badge data. The company's HR chief even encouraged previously approved remote workers to reconsider and join their colleagues in the physical office. The ongoing debate between remote and in-office work continues, with employees carefully weighing their options amidst Google's efforts to draw them back to the office environment.