Work from home: Google contractors do not enjoy the same privileges as company employees!
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Google's workforce is made up mostly of contractors, not employees, though no one can be sure, as the company has never released details about its employee structure. It turns out that in addition to contractors not enjoying the same benefits as employees, this segment of the workforce doesn't have the same privileges when it comes to work-from-home options. Contractors who ask to work from home are essentially told to start looking for work elsewhere.
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As Bloomberg reports, the issue is exemplified by the situation for Google Maps workers in the Seattle area. Here, Google’s labor vendors have told contractors they must return to the office by June 6, with little to no space for those concerned about their health or the rising cost of commuting . One worker who was concerned he had contracted Covid -19 after four lung surgeries and therefore requested an exception to work from home said HR told him he should start looking for work elsewhere .
Other workers have similar concerns, and some have joined forces to create a petition, demanding that “our concerns be adequately addressed and that we have created and approved a flexible work plan for all workers .” They cite concerns such as health, rising costs of childcare and commuting, with some no longer able to afford the costs associated with working in the office. Meanwhile, the Google contractor in question claims that its return-to-the-office policy includes the option of working from home, although it depends on the contractors’ workload and the demands of clients .
So far, the Alphabet Workers Union has taken this issue into its own hands. It requires Google to set better standards for paying contractors and take their concerns seriously. However, Google does not officially recognize the Alphabet Workers Union, so the question is how much its involvement can change .
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Google is just one of many companies pushing to get its employees back into the office. Due to employee backlash, the company was forced to delay its new hybrid work model for months. Unlike contractors, employees appear to be more successful in negotiating the specifics of their hybrid work models, with Google allowing exceptions and more flexibility than contractors.
Information source: androidpolice.com
