Hidden Google benefits

Microsoft / Eng bro12
Jan 16 191 Comments

I have a Google offer on a team I'm excited for, but just got a competing offer that's significantly higher ($$ wise) and I'm unsure if Google can match.

Are there any hidden Google perks that add a cherry on top and make the lower Google comp more appealing? Especially ones that can translate to more $$ savings down the line. Otherwise on a purely financial basis it seems like Google is behind.

Assume all the fundamentals are the same in both: good insurance, 401k match, WLB, challenging work and so on.

I don't have Google numbers yet but it's for L4. The competing offer is in the order of $350 TC for another large software company on the west coast (prefer not to say name to keep anonymity).

Current TC: $200k

Google
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 TOP 191 Comments
  • Google / Eng
    prodaccess

    Google Eng

    BIO
    Top Contributor or GTFO
     prodaccessmore
    We have plenty of kale if that is your thing.
    Jan 16 17
    • Amazon also provides a desk where you can hide under it, curl up and cry with the free tissues
      Jan 22
    • Google Nahn
      I laughed, really.
      Jan 22
    • Microsoft ibSs75
      JNeo42: Amazon does have milk (at least the 2 buildings/floors I’ve been in).
      Jan 22
    • New / Eng
      CnfusdSprm

      New Eng

      PRE
      Starbucks
       CnfusdSprmmore
      Hey hey hey , Amazon has subsidized snicker bars for $1 . I eat it everyday and I thank Jeff B for it
      Jan 22
    • Aon Hewitt winter 123
      Organic kale?
      Jan 22
  • Google / Product callofwild
    The only real perk is that you get to work for Google and if that is not appealing enough, please do all of us a favor and take the other offer. :)
    Jan 21 15
    • Amazon ushldknow
      And, like, hmmm, making the world a better place!!! [eye roll]
      Jan 22
    • Facebook / Eng HappyTree
      Google 2019 != Google 2002. Get off your high horse.
      Jan 22
    • Microsoft Teamsteam
      Agree with callofwild. When I joined Microsoft it was about the company and the product. I didn’t even know the levels and bonus stock grants. I got low balled big time but over time I think I have made up the lost $$.

      The $75K SSA in August was a good surprise
      Jan 22
    • New fzlpop
      Wrong teamsteam. The companies are paying you money so that they can make 10x or more off of your labor. When you cease to be useful for them, you will be thrown out like yesterday’s stale food. One can’t feed his/her family on corporate Koolaid forever.
      Jan 22
    • Google / Eng Pfjhebs
      Google's main revenue is ads, but you guys are kidding yourselves if you don't think there are interesting problems being tackled in all areas of computer science at Google.
      Jan 23
  • Google QNrQ72
    Googles 401k matching (50% match) is huge. Another underrated benefit is the ability to save up to 27.5k, tax-free, in Roth accounts through megabackdoor Roth contributions. Many, many company’s do not allow this, and it can lead to saving a significant amount of tax-free money.
    Jan 16 18
    • Collective Health kavita
      Guess whatever google doc you guys are using for personal finance has bad information. The money you are transferring from a Roth 401K is a transfer, not a direct contribution. You can’t withdraw your principle from a transfer until 5 years afterwards.
      Jan 21
    • Google OUKV03
      Pretty sure that only applies to conversions from a pre-tax 401k. This would be a conversion from an after-tax 401k. But I'm not an accountant
      Jan 21
    • Collective Health kavita
      Y’all are right I’m wrong.
      Jan 21
    • Spotify Mukv38
      @DvV dividends are normally treated as short term gains, so having those come in tax free is advantageous too. 0% tax on capital gains is still better than. 15% (or more if you’re a high earner). The Roth also offers some indirect advantages over regular accounts, like not being counted on your kids’ college financial aid applications.
      Jan 22
    • @spotify: have you heard of "qualified dividends v.s. unqualified?" Passed into law by gw bush.
      Jan 23
  • Microsoft / Product
    Brazuka

    Microsoft Product

    PRE
    Bain & Company
     Brazukamore
    What's the other company
    Jan 16 10
    • Google TheNimbles
      I think that’s why he’s saying “X” instead of the company. So no one will know him.
      Jan 21
    • Snapchat svai
      @create hey I read that 😡😡 😂😂😂
      Jan 21
    • Microsoft / Eng Max401k
      🤦🏽‍♂️
      Jan 21
    • Amazon brig
      If it's another large software company like he mentioned in his OP then no one will know know even if he replaced the X with the company name
      Jan 21
    • Google TheNimbles
      Right, but he doesn’t want people to know
      Jan 21
  • Sapient Razorfish / Mktg GjSv57
    Google has free food, gym allowance, massage, big personal study / training contribution
    Jan 16 7
    • Sapient Razorfish / Mktg GjSv57
      It is to ease your life, everyone decides for himself what to do and commit. Man up guys (both women and man meant)
      Jan 21
    • Netflix isitme
      Is the massage with happy ending?
      Jan 21
    • Google / Eng mad👩🏻‍🔬
      There's no gym allowance I'm aware of, but there are gyms
      Jan 21
    • Unity McGyver
      @isitme yes by sundar
      Jan 21
    • Google sisyphus01
      NYC has a gym allowance that works out to $33/month after tax. Not much, but appreciated. Also has discounts on monthly memberships at several gyms. Brings total monthly cost of Equinox down to less than $200/mo
      Jan 22
  • Nvidia 1029
    Internet reimbursement $75, phone plan and phone, free food, free shuttles, various gyms and fitness classes
    Jan 16 10
    • Google / Eng catburglar
      How exactly do I claim this?
      Jan 21
    • Google nooglerx
      Do you moma bro?
      Jan 21
    • Yelp / Eng jeremystop
      @catburglar google it
      Jan 23
    • New pezon
      go/internetreimbursement
      Jan 23
    • Intel goodnight!
      @Nvidia: Wait .. you said phone plan ?
      Jan 24
  • Amazon / PR jefe_bezos
    FWIW, I had an offer for ~350 from another company and google was at ~300. Google countered with “less” salary and more stock but ultimately equal TC. I was boggled and declined.
    Jan 21 8
    • Amazon / PR jefe_bezos
      L4. Nobody has ever asked me for proof before, nor would I give it.
      Jan 21
    • VMware / Eng andor
      That's a very good offer. I think you should have taken it. Do you mind sharing the other company? And what was G offer's split?
      Jan 22
    • Google Woopsy
      In general I'm personally ok to take "less" base for more RSU (in a public company), but it depends on your situation: landlords look mostly at the base, same for lending institutions.
      Jan 22
    • Facebook liam
      I would trade base for stock any time at G or FB. Stocks wouldn't affect your refreshes size but your base would grow faster.
      Jan 22
    • Atlassian / Eng
      Luffy, M.D

      Atlassian Eng

      PRE
      Facebook
      BIO
      A prematurely grumpy somewhat old man
       Luffy, M.Dmore
      I took the job at Atlassian over another offer with the same TC /in part/ because the cash vs stock balance of the Atlassian offer was a lot more cash.

      Stock comp is at the mercy of the market which can fuck everybody's stock even if your company is doing well, bonus targets are usually only based on your company's performance, and base usually never goes down.
      Jan 23
  • Lyft crossfire
    Do the needful on blind please, share the offers !
    Jan 16 1
    • Microsoft / Eng bro12
      OP
      Added more details to OP
      Jan 16
  • Microsoft / Product MrHyde🎃🎃
    How much of a difference. I would pitch it to the recruiter and see what they can do. Usually Google is good about matching or coming close
    Jan 16 1
    • Microsoft / Eng bro12
      OP
      That's the first thing I'm trying, but just trying to get thoughts in case it doesn't work out
      Jan 16
  • Google airdoogler
    Offices all over the world, with automatic approval to work from any office 2 days a month. If you have the means, frequent world travel is very, very doable. And extended time working overseas just needs manager approval
    Jan 21 0
  • New ktFx33
    They pay for adoption
    Jan 16 1
    • Google MxKP36
      I think it's up to $25k.
      Jan 21
  • Gusto 9001
    “another large software company on the west coast (prefer not to say name to keep anonymity)”

    So you think we’ll be able to identify you by knowing that you work at MS and have an offer from Google and from another large company? Lol what kind of triangulation do you think we’re capable of?
    Jan 21 0
  • Google GFvm67
    Amazing parent benefits, automatic life insurance where your family will receive 1/2 your salary for 10 years if something happens to you, backup care for chdren or parents (in home, 10 days per year).
    Jan 21 3
    • Google whatsgood
      This. Google will pay your surviving spouse 50% your salary for 10 yrs if you die. That’s not in the hr benefits. It’s a stealth benefit. I have confirmation that they pay out on this. It is separate from your traditional life / disability insurance.
      Jan 21
    • Google Woopsy
      Also they vest all your RSUs immediately in case of death.
      Jan 22
    • Splunk KE94107
      And that’s supposed to make me want to work there? Making me worth more dead than alive to my spouse/heirs?
      Jan 22
  • RingCentral / Eng Dwdx48
    I want my eggs warm
    Jan 18 1
  • Microsoft StevoBallo
    Just hope it's not Amazon you're competing against google. Amazon gives you all that money because that's all they give you, except for bananas. You'll also get worked worked at Amazon vs Google
    Jan 21 1
    • Facebook Moth
      Yeah, if it’s Amazon, there’s a lot you need to know to discount their numbers.
      Jan 21
  • Facebook liam
    20 paid hours to volunteer
    Jan 21 5
    • GE / Eng
      JwBstrd

      GE Eng

      BIO
      .
       JwBstrdmore
      How is it volunteering if you're paid to do it?
      Jan 21

    • Flagged by the community.

    • Facebook liam
      You paid by Google, but volunteer for (almost) any non-profit, on top of that G would pay an extra $10/hr to non-profit.
      Jan 22
    • Amazon BigBird420
      Could you explain this to me more? Let's say you have a salary, do they convert it to an hourly rate and pay that out for 20h?
      Nov 26
    • Facebook liam
      You would get your regular salary. Non-profit would get an extra 20hrs*$10 from Google.
      Nov 27
  • Veritas / Strategy xWfa06
    They pay for freezing your eggs, but I don’t think you’ll care
    Jan 17 0
  • LinkedIn valleyguy
    Does Google still have the Deferred Compensation Plan for non-exec employees? (The one where you can put pre-tax money in their internal hedge fund, and it gets paid out along with earnings starting like 3 years later.)
    Jan 21 3
    • Microsoft / Eng bro12
      OP
      They sent me that as part of their comp booklet but I didn't quite understand it. Can you share more about that?
      Jan 21
    • Roku Jerome
      Never heard about this during my google offers
      Jan 21
    • LinkedIn valleyguy
      OP your booklet has more up to date info than I do. Estimating how much more it can earn you or save you in taxes is complicated, you'll have to talk to a tax accountant. DCPs at most companies are only for execs, so what Google does is very cool and unusual.
      Jan 21
  • Google / Eng
    prodaccess

    Google Eng

    BIO
    Top Contributor or GTFO
     prodaccessmore
    Op, you need to share more details on the offers and companies to get meaningful answers.

    For example, one thing can will affect you TC over time is the stock refresh. Google is pretty generous on those but we have no idea about the other company you are talking about.
    Jan 16 2
    • Microsoft / Eng bro12
      OP
      Added more details above, but unfortunately can't share the name of the other company yet.

      Can you tell me more about the stock refreshers at Google for L4?
      Jan 17
    • Apple / Eng cho Chang
      Fb E4 target annual refresher is 70k over 4 years; G should be similar.
      Jan 21
  • Microsoft ScubyDuBDu
    Op more details would help us provide better suggestions. Like level at Ms, YOE and I understand keeping the other company anonymous but sometimes money isn't worth enough. Even a 50k higher TC may not be worth it if the company is not doing good, wlb is bad etc. Eg Snapchat. There are ipoed and their offers are still bigger than Google but not worth it. Also yearly refresher at the other company and a lot of other things come into play. So not sure if any advice without the other companie's name is going to be much useful.
    Jan 21 7
    • Microsoft / Eng bro12
      OP
      Thanks for the tip. It's just my paranoia for now. I might post the company name after I accept the offer.

      For now, the other company is a *public* large software company with good wlb, and it's not snap. It's not FAANG.

      At what point would you consider the higher offer in terms of $$ vs. Google?
      Jan 21
    • Microsoft / Eng bro12
      OP
      Also I don't believe it's a sinking ship company
      Jan 21
    • Oracle zyxw
      Please tell me it's not OCI!!
      Jan 21
    • Microsoft / Eng bro12
      OP
      It's not OCI
      Jan 21
    • Amazon Akxhsbsuha
      Oh man, it is Oracle. Lol. Take the Google offer and don’t look back
      Jan 23

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