Google's Second-Class Citizens

theodp writes "Valleywag reports on a new caste system at Google, which will mean compulsory lunch breaks, two additional unpaid 15-minute breaks, limited OT, and e-clock punching for those reclassified as hourly workers starting April 1. Could be worse, though. Google also offers gigs through WorkforceLogic (the company that helped Microsoft deal with its pesky permatemps), which come with a guarantee of unemployment after one year. Guess that's what passes for the Best Employer in the US these days."

Comments

Remember when

[elrous0]

Anyone remember when a worker would just go in, get hired by a company, and work for them? Now it seems like everything but the most professional jobs are getting outsourced either oversees or to temp, staffing services, and contractor agencies.

How many people here still work for companies where the secretaries and janitors (sorry, don't have the inclination to use the newer politically-correct terms) actually are full-time, fully-vested, non-contracted company employees? I'm praying there are are least a few of you who do.

Re:Best Employer

[Bacon Bits]

"There is one rule for the industrialist and that is: Make the best quality of goods possible at the lowest cost possible, paying the highest wages possible." -- Henry Ford

Libertarians will kindly note that Henry Ford died in 1947.

Re:That's fed law.

[cayenne8]

"Having your job classified as exempt from FLSA laws carries with it a certain status, though. Employees like to be "salaried," and not have to fill out an hourly timesheet, even if filling out a timesheet means the occasional opportunity for overtime."

While I don't like that 'mandatory' lunch and break periods...I don't really see the gripe.

Since I turned to full blow contractor...that's the way I prefer it. No more working for 'free' ever. I never want to give my working time for free again, which is what you do on salary. If it makes them think twice before asking me to work OT...that's great. I means they won't be asking me unless they damned sure need it.

I'm willing to do my all for the job when needed, but, they're gonna pay for it. My free time is VERY valuable.

Now...I wonder if Google would let these people inc. themselves, and work for them on a contractor basis? That way, they could get great tax benefits, and if doing something like an "S" corp...could potentially reduce drastically their income that is subject to FICA, Medicare, etc...the 'employment' taxes....

Re:That's fed law.

[Rob the Bold]

I've worked as a hiring manager for more than one company, and I've rarely ever seen an hourly employee get paid for breaks. It's not a common thing. They get paid for the time they work, which is the essence of an *hourly* employee by definition.

I guess no one thought to check up with the Department of Labor Compliance Assistance office. And as a "hiring manager," you really should be familiar with this stuff:

http://www.dol.gov/compliance/topics/wages-other-b reaks.htm

From the summary:

. . . if employers do offer short breaks (lasting about five to 20 minutes), federal law considers these short breaks time for which employees must be compensated.