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Median rent for a 1 bedroom in mountainview is $3.6k Median salary for google is $280k. Some of that is stock so let's say, so $20k, and after taxes $13k/mo. Take out match for 401k, health plan deductions and real take home around $9-10k/mo.

No need for a car or an apartment. Food, gymn, and laundry are free, so only expense left is clothing.

That's an amazing deal given the network effects of other perks, especially considering no need to commute. If you're young and single it's really a no-brainer.

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Isn't this aimed specifically at people who are hybrid? I'd love something like this, personally. Have my house outside the city, travel in for 3 days 2 nights each week for work. This seems absolutely reasonable to me, although I kinda think they should offer it for free, but I don't know the legal ramifications of that.

I took it the same way. I work at a 100% remote company with folks across the US and Europe. We don't have an office anywhere, but if we did, this would be a compelling way to take a short trip + meet some coworkers.

That sounds terrible to me. I want to be home every night. Not living at work for 3 days straight. What do you do, bring all your hobbies and shit with you, or do you just go to the hotel and keep working all night until bed?

I might do something like that if I got Fridays off or something like that. Otherwise, I want to get as far away from work as possible during my free time.

I slept in an apartment above my office in London for two nights a week over four years, commuting from York (3 hours door-to-door).

Each week I spent the three days in the office working very long hours, and then had a nice relaxing couple of days at home, working a bit but also being a very active dad, since my wife did everything with the kids whilst I was away.

This worked really well for us. Now my wife is doing the same and working in London 3 days a week. Still working well.

Free time when you’re at work just gets shifted to when you’re at home.

A gentle reminder -- this is a hotel. If you are the kind of person who can regularly spend nearly 1/3 of your nights living in a hotel where you don't have a kitchen, a (real) fridge, carefully selected and arranged furniture, wardrobe, game console/musical instruments/etc, good for you, maybe should even consider a job as a consultant. To most people it is a horrible idea.

A lot of people used to live out of hotels. During the gilded age, a lot of rich people would do that, like Tesla (well, he wasn't rich by then, but had a rich benefactor). Short stays in inns probably weren't common until the 20th century.

> kitchen, a (real) fridge, carefully selected and arranged furniture, wardrobe, game console/musical instruments/etc

Funnily enough, Google offices provide these to employees.

Does this mean employees age out of working for Google? Once you’re married and have children it’s time to leave Google and the bay?

shouldn't you be #FIRE and living the #VANLIFE by then?

It's cheaper until the promo rate expires (in 4 days?) or cost otherwise rises just 20%.

I thought Google ended free meals and laundry.

Who else wants all their home internet traffic routing through their employer? At least workers won't be stuck with a long apartment lease at the next Google layoff. They can conveniently collect their box of belongings on the sidewalk when they lose their job.

Free meals still exists.

... until you're laid off and now have no income and no home.

Where is that not the case

When you work for an employer that doesn’t have the ability to evict you

Where social safety net exists and employment is a % of your previous income, as well as health insurance not being tied your job.

This is no different from company towns back a hundred fifty years ago. I wouldn't want to have to be entirely reliant on the company for food and shelter.

It's very different because you can go a few blocks over and buy or rent on your own.

The core problem with a company town is them having control over the entire town.

If company towns were to come back, it wouldn't be in one fell swoop. It would start with "good deals" like this...

It's common in China, rural workers in dorm style housing. Occasionally go back home. Google employees can have a morning exercise together and sing songs about how great Google is. It will boost moral and productivity which is good for the share price.

I love your cynism :) And I agree, this is totally "the circle" level

Tools don't have lives, so just put them in a drawer.

You will own nothing and be happy!

Personally, my stomach churns at the idea of having your entire life and identity tied up in a job.

> real take home around $9-10k/mo

Except that you can sell whatever stock you get. It's also real money with essentially zero barrier to conversion. Not including it is weird.

I'm would be very surprised that these rooms weren't completed rented out with a huge waiting list.

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