Would A Free Electric Scooter Get You Back To The Office? Google Hopes So
Google is luring employees back to the office with free electric scooters. However, its personal transportation incentive does come with a catch.
Google is using free electric scooters as an incentive to lure remote-working employees back to the workspace. However, the initiative does have some caveats as can be expected. During the pandemic, Google's work-from-home policy was extended to accommodate employees who preferred to continue working remotely.
A percentage of Google employees are already given the option to work remotely on a more permanent basis. However, workers with certain roles are still required to be physically on-site in Google's many office locations. Now, Google might have a fleet of autonomous workers at its disposal, not to mention a portion of employees already reporting back to its main offices, but it's still trying to entice remote workers to move back to the physical workforce.
This is where Google's “Ride Scoot” initiative comes in, a program that lets its U.S.-based workers gain free access to an e-scooter subscription service. According to The Verge, Google has partnered with Unagi, an electric scooter company that started back in 2018. Unagi not only produces e-scooters for sale but also offers monthly and yearly rental subscription services. Its Model One e-scooter costs up to $990, while its subscription starts at $49 per month after a $50 sign-up fee. Google employees get a discount that drops the monthly cost to just $44.10, and Google is offering to fully reimburse the entire cost for any employee willing to sign up at Unagi booths at select offices. On top of Google's free employee shuttle service, it will soon be adding scooter subscriptions as a transportation option as well, which will be available in office locations including Seattle, Irvine, Sunnyvale, Playa Vista, Kirkland, Austin, New York City, and of course, its main Mountain View headquarters.
With rising gas prices becoming a problem, opting for a free electric scooter service might be a practical choice for Google employees hoping to get back to the office. While employees who sign up won't be given full ownership of Unagi's e-scooters, their reimbursed subscription will grant them free maintenance and insurance in case of damage or theft. As for the e-scooter that employees will be provided with, the Model One is touted as among the most portable scooters available, weighing in at just 26.5 pounds, with a top speed of 20 miles per hour and a maximum range of 15.5 miles.
It might not have the features of a cutting-edge e-bike, but it offers enough for a short commute. Unfortunately, this simply won't do for employees who have to travel longer distances, such as those residing in neighboring counties. Then there's the case of safety, storage options, terrain maneuverability, and other factors that might not make an e-scooter a viable choice for every employee. Further, employees are required to travel to work using the e-scooters at least nine times per month for Google to fully cover their subscription expenses. It might be a welcome addition as far as transportation options go, but Google's Ride Scoot program alone might not be enough to convince the majority of its remote-working employee to come back to its offices in a hurry.
Source: The Verge