PIPs Are Worse Now

At one point, Google actually was different about handling PIPs.

Back in the 2010s, I'd say that of the people who got PIPed, about 50% made it.

I'm sure such a statement will rankle feathers on this board, as it goes against the usual dogma that a PIP was, is, and forever will be always part of a plan for firing someone. But regardless, that's a fact. If you want to yell "YOU ARE WRONG" or otherwise lash out for stating a fact, log off this board and go get therapy.

And the people PIPed back then didn't languish either, At least one is a director now.

Just this month? Of the several PIPs I know about, 0% made it. All of them were shown the door. Now that's in line with the usual dogma around here, but I reiterate that it is a distinct change.

As near as I can tell, here's the new process: You get offered a PIP or the new standard severance (14 weeks plus one week each additional year). It is an either-or choice. If you are 40 or older then you have 3 weeks to decide per the OWBPA. If you are under 40 then Google could give you 3 seconds to decide, but from what I have been hearing Google isn't that awful (yet?).

Googlers aged 40 or older should not waste time when offered a PIP or the severance. You should do the math (hopefully they will actually tell you the dollar amount of your severance). Consider COBRA expenses and the like to keep health insurance.

Googlers under age 40 should probably plan ahead to be able to quickly answer the question.

One open question is I don't know if you are offered a fully-developed PIP at the time you are offered the choice, or if you are offered a mystery box (the detailed PIP to be revealed after you make the choice). If someone here actually knows (and not just speculate, but knows), please reply.

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To be sure, Google is actively growing in lower paying locales like Munich or Dublin. Google is also trying to grow in Bangalore, but good talent doesn't stay. Good talent decides to try their luck with being surrounded by people named O'Brien.

I agree. However you might not like my reason.

Disclaimer: like any generalisation this one doesn't cover 100% of observations. There is really small number of really talented Indian programmers.

Good Indian talent is good on passing leetcode interviews, tribal hiring, and sticking next to guy named O'Brian who does the real job so they can pretend to be part of it .

At some saturation point there are not enough O'Briens and suddenly it become obvious than enterprise software is not leetcode puzzles. But then it's too late

That's what Google MBA management is building now.

If an engineering job can be done
for a fraction of the High salary/total
compensation package by some
peons in another country, then it
makes perfect sense to do it: after
all this is Wall Street/ investors money

If.

If an engineering job can be done for a fraction of the High salary/total compensation package by some peons in another country, then it makes perfect sense to do it: after all this is Wall Street/ investors money

A lot of postings for señor software engineers in Mexico.

Every company should walk away from India. China stole our secrets, but at least they have a country that's now competing at the world stage in every area. OTOH, companies handed over their secrets to India, but most of the country looks no better than Africa and brags about finally having public toilets. What a pathetic country.

Funny thing: At Google, anyone worth a damn is already on their way out of India.

To be sure, Google is actively growing in lower paying locales like Munich or Dublin. Google is also trying to grow in Bangalore, but good talent doesn't stay. Good talent decides to try their luck with being surrounded by people named O'Brien.

That just leaves the mediocre talent. And it shows. And yes, they are getting PIPed too.

This does imply a contradiction: Google wants talent good enough to leave India, but wants said talent to remain in India. Meanwhile we are organizing all of the world's information, which is telling people that there are better places to live than Bangalore.

My guess? Leadership is going to double down on Warsaw, Munich, Dublin and Waterloo, to and eventually walk back on India for most engineering roles.

The bar was never high at Google. They've bought every property but search. Just now they are trying to buy an Israeli company for their security solution, something that should be provided in their cloud services from the beginning.

Their mystique is due to their interview process, perks, etc.--everything except actual work.

PIPs are used to raise the bar among colleagues to remind everyone Christmas is over and Google isn’t the startup it used to be anymore.

If your high paying North American job can be done cheaper in a third world country, your job will be outsourced; at the end of the day, Google executives report to Wall Street investors; that’s what matters: “dinero, dinero, dinero…”

Outsourcing

Pips contribute to anxiety and low morale but don't change things materially. No excuse is needed. Last 1.5h years of rifs showed no relationship between performance and decision to be kicked out.

Like hiring process, it is another black box with no obvious clear and transparent rules.

Thread regarding Alphabet Inc. (Google) layoffs

PIPs Are Worse Now

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