Google’s ‘Relaxation and Vest’ Days for Sr. Workers Are Over, Says CEO. It’s a Sensible Concept

‘Relaxation and vest’ could be the worst-kept secret in Silicon Valley. Also referred to as ‘coasters’, these are institutional workers, sometimes senior engineers at huge tech firms like Google and Fb/Meta, who’ve it straightforward of their job and who cling about on firm rooftops taking pictures the breeze with their fellow coasters, all whereas amassing a 7-figure paycheck and a fair more healthy inventory.

The tech Fats Cat narrative earned a joking status when HBO’s “Silicon Valley” did a bit on it. Within the present, Nelson “Massive Head” Bighetti will get a promotion on the tech big Hooli, the fictional firm impressed by Google. Bighetti wasn’t assigned to any venture and as an alternative he chooses to squander his days with fellow resters-and-vesters, getting wealthy whereas doing little to nothing.

It’s not simply fiction. Studies and interviews with precise, real-life coasters on the likes of Google, Meta, and Microsoft say it occurs extra typically than you assume. “My days started at 11 and I took lengthy lunches,” laughed one former Googler.

It occurs, others say, as a result of the behemoth tech firms are capable of afford it – at the very least till now. With bottomless pockets, these organizations had been capable of rent or promote the new pictures in rising fields like AI and quantum computing, and never count on them to place within the common 40+ hours. It’s a “defensive measure” since you’d somewhat maintain onto prime expertise, even when it means they don’t maintain up the tip of their discount. 

Google was the place for resters-and-vesters. But it surely appears like will probably be coming to an finish. At Vox Media’s Code Convention final week, Pichai revisited Google’s plan to search out efficiencies wherever it may, citing their plan for a ‘simplicity dash‘ and even discussing a attainable discount in headcount of as much as 20 p.c. 

With looming recessions and inflationary pressures, there’s rising concern of slower progress and fiercer competitors. On the convention, Pichai talked about TikTok and different entrants within the Chinese language market. Issues that they didn’t have to consider two years in the past are abruptly changing into actual points for the large weapons.

There will likely be a variety of options put in place to search out efficiencies and climate this financial downtown. One of many approaches could be a concerted effort in uncovering the resters-and-vesters and calling them out. Or eliminating them altogether.

However I say, simpler stated than completed. Pichai and different senior leaders should proceed with warning. Coming after individuals with a militaristic productiveness monitoring system may simply backfire. Folks don’t wish to be measured and monitored so intensely, particularly when their work is knowledge-based. They aren’t creating widgets. They’re creating concepts. 

The satan’s within the particulars of the messaging. The change should be framed in two methods. First, it’s about equity and leveling the taking part in area. Fairness is now a part of any good D&I technique. Reminding an individual that their sub-par contribution is inequitable might encourage them to drag their weight. We’ve a deep-wired aversion to being perceived by others as a cheat or defector.

Second, it’s about belonging, additionally a bit to the D&I puzzle. We’re people on the finish of the day. No individual desires to be a social pariah, even one which’s gifted. Contributing, belonging, constructing alongside your fellow creators – this generally is a robust motivator to get individuals concerned extra evenly.