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Google Layoff Rumors (Kirkland & Fremont)

The_TimThe_Tim
edited August 2009 in The Economy
Via Examiner.com: Google is laying off contractors and administrators
Apparently, Google is laying-off a large number of sub-contracted employees and full-time employees that manage those contractors. The layoffs are taking place in Seattle and Kirkland.
The "article" is heavy on speculation and includes some questionable statements including one about Google attempting to get around "various state and federal rules" that require them to "pay large severances." As far as I know there are no such laws.

Comments

  • AlanAlan
    Maybe then mean the layoffs are being structured so that Google will not have to pay higher unemployment tax.

    I think that if enough former employees start collecting unemployment benefits, the former employer has to start paying more money. But I'm not sure about that.
  • deejayohdeejayoh
    Contractors /= employees
    Letting go of a contractor /= a layoff
    Contractors don't get severance package

    the author is zero for for three. Credibility is zero

    Besides, the word on the street at an online-advertising industry meetup this week was that google is adding people in Washington.
  • bilirubenbiliruben
    United Van Lines reports Washington exodus (among other places).

    We ring in at 53.4% outbound trips. Interestingly, Oregon is at nearly 60% inbound. Usually I see Washington and Oregon trending in the same direction. Maybe there is a large variability here. Or maybe we have more high-end jobs departing. My guess is that most jobs that can afford to hire a moving van are close to 6 figures. Maybe all those WAMUites truckin' to NYC to meet their new masters.
  • Lake Hills RenterLake Hills Renter
    Maybe all the laid off Washington people are moving to Oregon so they don't have to pay sales tax.
  • The_TimThe_Tim
    Someone posted something like this in an open thread or the forums a while back but I don't remember who. I thought it was an interesting data point though:

    Uhaul.com rates for 1-way rental of a 10' truck
    Seattle, WA to Portland, OR: $244
    Portland, OR to Seattle, WA: $95
  • bilirubenbiliruben
    "Maybe all the laid off Washington people are moving to Oregon so they don't have to pay sales tax."

    My ma is planning to do the opposite. The 9% income tax is taking a bite out of her retirement.
  • lamontlamont
    The Tim wrote:
    Via Examiner.com: Google is laying off contractors and administrators
    Apparently, Google is laying-off a large number of sub-contracted employees and full-time employees that manage those contractors. The layoffs are taking place in Seattle and Kirkland.
    The "article" is heavy on speculation and includes some questionable statements including one about Google attempting to get around "various state and federal rules" that require them to "pay large severances." As far as I know there are no such laws.

    WARN requires 60-days advance notice:

    http://www.dol.gov/compliance/topics/pl ... ayoffs.htm

    Given the typical quality of news reporting I could see that turning into severance payments...
  • deejayohdeejayoh
    The Tim wrote:
    Someone posted something like this in an open thread or the forums a while back but I don't remember who. I thought it was an interesting data point though:

    Uhaul.com rates for 1-way rental of a 10' truck
    Seattle, WA to Portland, OR: $244
    Portland, OR to Seattle, WA: $95

    Out of curiousity I checked these for SEA-->SF last night, and the rates were almost the same both ways. IIRC,
    SEA to SF was ~$550
    SF to SEA was ~$620
  • The_TimThe_Tim
    deejayoh wrote:
    The Tim wrote:
    Someone posted something like this in an open thread or the forums a while back but I don't remember who. I thought it was an interesting data point though:

    Uhaul.com rates for 1-way rental of a 10' truck
    Seattle, WA to Portland, OR: $244
    Portland, OR to Seattle, WA: $95

    Out of curiousity I checked these for SEA-->SF last night, and the rates were almost the same both ways. IIRC,
    SEA to SF was ~$550
    SF to SEA was ~$620
    A few other interesting ones...

    Seattle, WA to Dallas, TX: $1,383
    Dallas, TX to Seattle, WA: $899

    Seattle, WA to Boise, ID: $300
    Boise, ID to Seattle, WA: $311

    Seattle, WA to Billings, MT: $701
    Billings, MT to Seattle, WA: $459

    Seattle, WA to Raleigh, NC: $1,431
    Raleigh, NC to Seattle, WA: $1,627

    Seattle, WA to Detroit, MI: $1,248
    Detroit, MI to Seattle, WA: $1,824

    I was expecting a bigger difference for Detroit.
  • SeattleMooseSeattleMoose
    In my place of employment 12 engineers have decided to move to TX...10 permanently and only 2 "temporary".
  • FreedomLoverFreedomLover
    SeattleMoose wrote:
    In my place of employment 12 engineers have decided to move to TX...10 permanently and only 2 "temporary".

    Hope you are getting used to this weather, because that's Texas! :twisted: :twisted:
  • AlanAlan
    But everyone in Texas has air conditioning.
  • deejayohdeejayoh
    Looks like the rumors I heard are confirmed by a "real" newspaper. Google is still hiring locally - not laying off as suggested by the "workplace examiner"

    http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/b ... ier03.html
    Google on move with hiring, Kirkland plans
    While Microsoft has been courting Yahoo, Google has been steadily building its presence in Microsoft's backyard.

    After a pause last winter to adjust to the economic downturn, Google has resumed plans to expand its presence at twin campuses in Seattle and in Kirkland, where the company has about 500 employees, including 360 engineers.

    The company's hiring has picked up, though at a measured pace, and it plans to increase the size of its Seattle engineering team by 5 to 10 percent through the end of the year.

    Google also has resumed work on its large new campus south of downtown Kirkland, which it plans to occupy in late September.
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