Leaked reminder: googlers to have more free time during 2020 ‘overtime’

• Google gives employees multiple days of vacation and one week without meetings during the vacation period.
• It’s the leadership’s latest move to help curb burnout among googlers, who will be working at home until at least mid-2021.
• In an employee memo obtained by Business Insider, CEO Sundar Pichai acknowledged the “extraordinary circumstances” of 2020.
• Are you a Google insider with information to share? You can contact this reporter securely using the Signal encrypted messaging app (+ 1-628-228-1836) or encrypted email ([email protected]). Contact using a non-working device.
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As googlers continue to work from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, the company is finding ways to reduce employee burnout.

This week, Google told employees they would get an additional two days off and a “meeting-free” week over the vacation period, according to a memo from CEO Sundar Pichai sent Wednesday and obtained by Business Insider.

In the note, Pichai acknowledged the “extraordinary circumstances” of 2020.

“I appreciate all the ways you have been helpful to our users, customers, partners and communities during this time and I want to make sure you are making time for yourself too,” the CEO wrote.

Googlers will be eligible for December 18 and January 4, and the company will implement a meeting-free week from December 28 to January 1.

A Google spokesperson confirmed the contents of the memo and said the company is providing employees with ways to “reset and reload,” which include access to mental health counseling and resources.

However, vacation days only apply to full-time employees and interns, and don’t apply to Google’s large workforce of temporary workers, suppliers, and contractors, who often miss out on standard business benefits.

With employees working remotely, Google increased the number of holidays and no meetings this year. Employees were given an extra day off before Labor Day for “collective well-being,” while non-meeting Fridays have become a more common occurrence in recent months, insiders say.

In the memo sent this week, Pichai encouraged googlers to “take the time to take care of themselves and loved ones” by pointing out some of the company’s internal resources to employees.

Googlers have been told they will work from home until summer 2021. The future beyond that is less clear, but Pichai raised the possibility of a “hybrid” work situation where employees will only work in offices a few days. of the week.

Employees have started lobbying the CEO for more clarity on what it will be like. In a recent all-hands, Pichai said he still expects most Googlers in the future will be tied to a physical office and live “at a reasonable distance” from it, according to leaked audio of the discussion obtained by Business Insider.

Meanwhile, despite a brief nod to a difficult year in this week’s reminder, Pichai has yet to address the US election results. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg acknowledged President-elect Biden’s expected victory during an employee meeting this week, though he didn’t make any public statements.

Here is Pichai’s memo in full:

Hi Googler,

We are entering the homestretch of 2020 and have already done a lot to be proud of, often against extraordinary circumstances. I appreciate all the ways you have been helpful to our users, customers, partners and communities during this time and I want to make sure you are making time for yourself too.

The two days of global vacation we had earlier this year worked well to help everyone rest and recharge. So we’re planning two more to help you disconnect in the new year. The first will be Friday, December 18, 2020 and the second, Monday, January 4, 2021. We acknowledge that these dates will not work for all teams due to company priorities and will fall on non-working days for some Googlers – in these cases, People Operations is working with your leaders on alternative deals. You can find more details in the FAQ.

Some of our teams have even held “meeting-free weeks,” which creates space for Googlers to focus on independent work or to make it easier to switch off and take a vacation. We have decided to make December 28, 2020 to January 1, 2021 an official week with no meetings across the company. Of course, there will be exceptions for teams that are working to meet tight deadlines, make deals, or support critical infrastructure (please watch for your leadership’s guidance). Otherwise, we move or cancel all routine, non-critical meetings that week.

Beyond these moments, continue to take the time to take care of yourself and your loved ones. If you want help with this, our new Helpful @ Home site created by People Operations, REWS and CorpEnd is a good place to start.

– Sundar