A Google founder urges employees to work 60-hour weeks and return to the office while supporting tech giants’ crackdown on pro-Trump content.
Google’s co-founder, Sergey Brin, has sparked discussion by calling for employees to work longer hours.
He believes that a 60-hour workweek can boost productivity and help the company advance its artificial intelligence (AI) projects.
This move comes as part of a larger trend among tech companies encouraging staff to return to the office.
Google founder asks employees for 60-hour workweeks and office returns
In an internal memo, Brin expressed his thoughts on productivity.
He stated that 60 hours per week is the “sweet spot” for getting work done effectively.
“In my experience, about 60 hours a week is the sweet spot of productivity.
“Some folks put in a lot more but can burn out or lose creativity. A number of folks work less than 60 hours and a small number put in the bare minimum to get by.
“This last group is not only unproductive but also can be highly demoralizing to everyone else.”
Brin’s emphasis on office attendance is clear. He wants employees to come to work every day, from Monday to Friday, to focus on their tasks.
This change aims to enhance collaboration and creativity among team members.
The race for artificial general intelligence
Google is competing with other tech giants to develop Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).
AGI refers to AI that can perform a wide range of tasks similar to a human.
Brin mentioned that Google’s AI programs, such as DeepMind and Gemini, have made significant progress since they were launched.
However, he acknowledged that the competition in this field is growing rapidly.
To succeed, Brin believes that the team must increase their efforts significantly. He expressed confidence that Google has the necessary resources to win this race with AGI.
Brin said: “We have come a long way in that time with many efforts we should feel very proud of.
“At the same time competition has accelerated immensely and the final race to AGI is afoot.
“I think we have all the ingredients to win this race but we are going to have to turbocharge our efforts.”
Impact of work-from-home polices
The call to return to the office aligns with a broader movement in the tech industry. Many companies are moving away from remote work policies.
This shift comes in response to the perceived decline in productivity when employees work from home.
Brin’s memo reflects a growing sentiment among leaders in tech.
They believe that face-to-face interaction is essential for innovation and teamwork.
By encouraging staff to work longer hours and return to the office, companies hope to foster a more dynamic work environment.
Understanding the pro-Trump crackdown
This push for longer workweeks also occurs in a political context.
The recent pro-Trump crackdown on workplace policies has influenced many companies.
Under Trump’s administration, efforts were made to reduce what he described as a bloated federal workforce.
In line with this, Trump has called for a return to five-day work weeks for federal employees.
This initiative has sparked similar responses from private companies like Google. The aim is to improve efficiency and accountability in the workforce.
Other companies following suit
Google is not alone in its approach. Other major companies, such as Amazon and Meta, are also pushing for staff to return to the office.
Amazon has required its employees to work five days a week since January, emphasizing the need for collaboration and innovation.
Likewise, Meta plans to cut around 5% of its workforce to improve performance.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that low-performing employees would be let go faster to raise the overall standard of work.