Google employees will start returning to the office in April. To woo its employees into WFO after working from home for two years, Google is offering a bonus in the form of a free electric scooter.
The search engine giant partnered with electric scooter maker Unagi to launch its 'Ride Scoot' program. Through this program, Google will reimburse the monthly subscription fee for Model One scooters rented by employees.
This motorized scooter retails for USD 990, but can also be rented for a subscription price of USD 49 per month. Google employees will reportedly get a discount on the subscription fee to USD 44.10 per month plus a registration fee of USD 50 which will be reimbursed by the company.
Unagi founder and CEO David Hyman said the program was designed to help transport Google employees to the office or at least to the nearest bus stop. As is known, Google does offer a free shuttle bus for its employees in Silicon Valley.
"They know there is concern among employees. People are getting used to working from home. And they're just trying to do everything they can to improve the back-to-office experience," Hyman said, as quoted by The Verge, Tuesday (5/4/). 2022).
Google employees participating in the free scooter program must use their scooter at least nine times a month to get a full reimbursement from the company. Google plans not to track employee locations while using scooters.
In addition to employees at Google headquarters in Mountain View, employees at other office locations such as Seattle, Kirkland, Irvine, Sunnyvale, Playa Vista, Austin, and New York can also get this bonus.
Google employees themselves will start working in the office again this month with a hybrid system, namely three days working in the office and the rest working at home. This hybrid work policy has been opposed by employees who are already comfortable working from home.
During an internal meeting last month, several Google employees complained that the WFO policy was unreasonable given the congestion in the Bay Area and soaring fuel prices. Other employees have complained that their requests to work from home were rejected by Google despite the support of their managers.