Google employees get 10% raise as competition for talent intensifies
Google, which employs about 250 workers at its AdWords office in Ann Arbor, plans to give a 10 percent raise to all of its employees, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The pay raise, which reportedly takes effect in January, was described as an acknowledgment that Google must work harder to compete with other tech firms to attract talent.
Workers at Ann Arbor's Google office will get a 10 percent raise.
Angela Cesere | AnnArbor.com
"While we don’t typically comment on internal matters, we do believe that competitive compensation plans are important to the future of the company," Google spokesman Jake Parrillo said in an e-mailed statement.
The competition for talent between Google and Facebook is particularly intense. It even affected Ann Arbor in 2009, when Facebook recruited Google's Ann Arbor site leader, Grady Burnett, to become its director of global online sales.
Google opened its Ann Arbor office in 2006 with plans to hire 1,000 workers by 2011. The firm, which received a tax credit from the Michigan Economic Development Corp. to support its local expansion, is far behind that hiring target but has said it continues to add employees. The firm recently renewed its lease for 80,000 square feet of space in the McKinley Towne Centre downtown.
Contact AnnArbor.com's Nathan Bomey at (734) 623-2587 or nathanbomey@annarbor.com. You can also follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's newsletters.
Comments
sh1
Fri, Nov 12, 2010 : 7:48 p.m.
I was saying you can't compare a highest-paid teacher salary-plus-benefits to an average Google worker without benefits.
AlphaAlpha
Thu, Nov 11, 2010 : 11:18 p.m.
Well, gee, sh1, wasn't that the implied assertion in your reference to public versus private salary alignment? Apology if not...
sh1
Thu, Nov 11, 2010 : 7:44 p.m.
Alpha, if you plan on throwing around numbers, can you at least compare apples to apples?
Ron Granger
Thu, Nov 11, 2010 : 3:06 p.m.
Google Ann Arbor is an ad sales office, not a tech office. It'd be great for A2 if they made it a tech office too. The google tech employees, like microsoft, amazon, facebook, etc typically earn six figures. Many earn well into six figures. Most people with the skills and drive to make the google engineering cut aren't sticking around in Michigan... And why should they, since many employers in Michigan think they can get people cheap, and don't have the stock to offer. For those who whine about their compsensation, you have to appreciate that they work far harder than most, and they got where they are by studying (and are still studying). It's long hours, and high stress... You are in competition with everyone else for bonuses. If you were that good, well, you'd be that good.
AlphaAlpha
Thu, Nov 11, 2010 : 9:48 a.m.
Well, word here is that the average Goog employee is earning ~$50K per year, with fairly limited benefits. $50K pales next to the ~104K total compensation enjoyed by A2 teachers, don't you think?
sh1
Thu, Nov 11, 2010 : 7:44 a.m.
Hmmm...where are all the people who've been saying that public and private sector salaries should be aligned? Anyone want to start the call for teachers to get back some of what they gave up in their last contract?
81wolverine
Wed, Nov 10, 2010 : 5:22 p.m.
It's a good investment for Google. They're sitting on a mountain of cash with nothing else to use it for. So, investing in their employees is a very wise use of the money. And it will benefit the Ann Arbor area a little too, so that's good. I'd apply for a job, but I'd probably be twice the age of everyone working there! (Wouldn't get any of the water cooler humor)
EDM450
Wed, Nov 10, 2010 : 4:42 p.m.
Gee thank for telling us about this. I feel oh so much much better about my life. "I'm sorry you said you did want fries with that???"
Top Cat
Wed, Nov 10, 2010 : 4:28 p.m.
It is good news any way you cut it. The posts that are sour grapes are certainly noted. Those are the kind of people a successful company like Google would never hire.
CynicA2
Wed, Nov 10, 2010 : 4:13 p.m.
This is a sales organization, so incentive compensation (commissions, bonuses, etc.) is PROBABLY a major part of the total compensation. They might have, for example, a "starving in style" base salary, plus commissions and or bonuses based on how well they perform - "how much they sell", or how many complaints they resolve, or whatever. So total comp probably varies widely, and they probably cull the herd for laggards regularly. Still, those who hustle probably do OK, especially considering their age. I have never actually known anyone who works there, so who knows for sure. I'm betting they coach their employees to keep their mouths shut too, especially around media types.
trs80
Wed, Nov 10, 2010 : 4 p.m.
According to WSJ, its an internal investment of $400 million. Which translates to 3.9% increase in operating costs. How many companies do you know that increase operating costs to offer better wages to their employees? In fact its the complete opposite, RIWF and layoffs in order to decrease operating cost to maximize profits for only a select few. Take it as you may, it is still an honest gesture to the working class which few of us will ever receive from today's corporate slavery economy.
A2comments
Wed, Nov 10, 2010 : 3:11 p.m.
I read that a study of the employees shows they don't value bonuses or equity, so they are getting their bonuses in their paychecks. So I don't know how much of this 10% is "extra".
mkw
Wed, Nov 10, 2010 : 3:08 p.m.
$50,000 plus numerous perks and benefits...
A2K
Wed, Nov 10, 2010 : 2:37 p.m.
I've heard they earn around 50K...which is pretty good for early-20-somthings (which they almost to a person appear to be).
trs80
Wed, Nov 10, 2010 : 2:03 p.m.
Forwarded to the boss, I give it about ten mintues before I get fired. wahaha