Laid-off Google workers wail low chances of getting re-hired: Insider

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Insider
19 Feb 14:27

Laid-off employees are barred from applying for positions that are only open to internal candidates, effectively lowering their chances of re-employment.

A Google sign is shown at one of the company's office complexes in Irvine, California, U.S., July 27, 2020. (Reuters)

A report published by Insider on Sunday revealed that Google was allowing its laid-off workers to apply for new roles at the company - but only as externals.

Google announced on January 20 that it laid off 12,000 workers of its workforce, which is about 6.4% of its tech armada.

Even though the affected employees had lost their jobs, they were still on the company's payroll until March 31.

Google continues to pay its laid-off employees, not out of a charitable concern, but because it complies with the WARN Act that requires employers to give notice of mass layoffs.

CEO Sundar Pichai had previously said in the mass layoff notice that affected workers would be given severance packages from March 31 if they weren't able to find another work position internally.

If affected workers weren't able to find another position by March 31, then their last day at Google is scheduled on this date, according to a notice sent to terminated workers.

That would provide them with "at least 60 days' pay and related benefits from the date of this notification," the note further said. But the issue remains that affected workers have to now apply as external candidates, laid-off googlers told Insider.

They were effectively barred from accessing internal systems, including one known as Grow, which includes training tools and internal hiring.

Laid-off workers are barred from roles posted exclusively for internal candidates, which effectively reduces their chances of getting re-hired.

"We're basically being treated like outsiders who never worked at Google," Paul Baker, a laid-off video production manager, told Insider via email.

Former Google employee, Nicholas Whitaker, told Insider that Google is not interested in helping former employees find new roles at the company.

"It is frustrating," a former gTech worker said. "We're still technically employed by Google for all intents and purposes, but we don't have any access to any of the internal systems aside from the offboarding site."

Not to mention the fact that the hiring process at Google is particularly long and rigorous, candidates are also restricted to three job applications per rolling 30-day window. "This limit gives our hard-working staffing team more time to focus on your application and helps you focus on the jobs that are the best match for your talents," Google says.

"Our chances are slim to none to get re-hired," one affected employee told Insider.