Here are the 5 reasons why some Google employees live in parking lotsHigh rentsTo save moneyOn a challengeCould not find accommodationNot too difficult to stay
“The benefits and care of employees is obviously world class, and compensation is almost unmatchable. But the company attracts some of the best talent and best people to work with in the world, which is the most important bit.” – Google Program Manager (San Francisco, CA). To stay at the top, the company requires their employees to put in extra hours. As a result, you would reportedly find employees spending long hours at Google quite common. It turns that out some employees almost never leave the campus and start living in the parking lot! There’s even a Quora thread about it. Here’s a look at 5 reasons Google employees prefer to live in parking lots and how easy it is…
High rents
As the rent in South Bay area was too high, Ben Discoe decided to live at the Google campus, as he already had a house payment and alimony to pay. Hence, he stayed at the Google campus for a period of 13 months – October 2011 to November 2012. It turned out that living in a parking lot was more suitable. When he started living on the campus, the security team at Google used to keep a watch on him. However, they left him alone once they were convinced that he was just an eccentric Googler.
To save money
Brandon Oxendine, a 23-year-old for the period June 28, 2013 to September 22, 2013 lived in a Google parking lot. He bought a station wagon, decorated it with two mattresses and put up curtains on the windows. According to Oxendine’s blog, 20s for him is the time to save some money and reach financial freedom. Hence, he chose to live in the parking lot. “If I do plan on traveling the world, I’ll need to be comfortable with unconventional living situations, and this is certainly a good place to start,” he says. Another Google employee, whose name was not cited in the Quora thread, stayed like a camper in the tent on campus. He saved up enough in 2-3 years to buy himself a house.
On a challenge
Matthew J Weaver started living in a Google parking lot on a challenge and says “it was excellent for my career.” According to Fox News report, although Google does not have a policy of permitting employees to sleep in campus, the security team “even kept a lookout on Weaver’s mobile home when he was away.” When weather conditions were suitable, he would even hold parties in his RV on Thursdays wrote Weaver. However, he says that it was a little tough for him to provide explanation to women he was dating as to why he lived in a parking lot.
Could not find accommodation
One Googler could not find a place to stay who had shifted to the London office from the Mountain View headquarters. He decided to stay at the office till a permanent residence could be organized. However, he slept under his desk for a duration of one week, instead of staying in the parking lot.
Not too difficult to stay
Living in a Google parking lot, or somewhere else for that matter, turns out is not really difficult. Those employees who stayed at the campus for extended periods said that they showered at the gym and ate their meals at the office (Google provides free meals for all employees). Even laundry is not a problem, as employees can do their laundry on campus. Also, anytime you feel the need to use the restroom, “just walk the short distance to the nearest Google building and badge in,” writes Discoe.
