Google is running a “summer special” promotion, under which full-time employees can book stays at the Bay View campus hotel for $99 per night until September. The hotel is located within Google’s newly opened 42-acre Bay View campus in Mountain View.
Last year, Google began requiring its employees to work in the office for three days per week. The company has since been encouraging a hybrid work schedule. In June, CNBC reported that Google updated its policy to include badge tracking, and attendance in person would be considered in performance reviews.
The company hopes that this promotion will “make it easier for Googlers to transition to the hybrid workplace,” eventually bringing them back to the office.
Extra hour of sleep, no commute, delicious breakfast: Google’s “summer special” offer to lure employees back to office
“Just imagine no commute to the office in the morning, and instead, you could have an extra hour of sleep and less friction,” reads the description. “Next, you could walk out of your room and quickly grab a delicious breakfast or get a workout in before work starts.”
This offer is exclusively for full-time employees and will be valid until the end of September. However, it is not considered a travel expense, meaning that employees must pay for it out of their own pockets.
The San Francisco Bay Area has some of the highest real estate costs due in part to limited housing supply from decades-old zoning restrictions and elevated demand. The city of Mountain View is also short on housing and contains large swaths of corporate offices — many of which are owned or leased by Google.
According to Ryan Lamont, a spokesperson for Google, the company offers accommodation specials for both local and travelling Googlers. These specials include access to their spaces and amenities. They advertise these specials through their regular Perks email, which also contains discounts for employees on other services and entertainment options.
The “summer special” promotion has received mixed responses from Googlers. Employees discussed the hotel deal in internal forums, shared memes, and shared their views. On the $99 per night cost. Some thought the amenities were worth it, while others wanted a lower price or more perks.