Ten US senators demand Google to automatically convert temp workers to permanent employees after six months

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Ten US senators have signed an official document late July, objecting to Google’s misuse of independent contractors and temporary workers, reports the New York Times. The document was signed post a report by The New York Times which indicated that the tech giant had more temporary and contract workers than full-time employees. The NYT report found that Google employs 102,000 full-time employees and 121,000 temporary and contract workers. Among the ten senators were presidential candidates Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris, and Elizabeth Warren.

The document highlights differences between permanent and temporary workers in terms of place of work, the number of hours they work, the tasks they perform, and whether or not they should continue to work on Google contracts. The NYT report highlights how temporary workers and contractors are typically paid a much lower salary than their full-time employed counterparts. They also have fewer opportunities for professional advancement as well as have to work overtime and not report inappropriate advances by superiors.

The senators call on Google to take “immediate action” to convert its growing number of contractors to full-time employees after six months of work. The letter was addressed to Google CEO Sundar Pichai and demands a response by Friday this week. It urges Google to commit to taking immediate action to end these anti-worker practices and adopt the following company policies.

The automatic transition from a temporary worker to permanent full-time Google employee after six months;
Prohibition of financial disincentives — including “conversion fees” stipulated by staffing agencies in contracts with Google — for transitioning a temporary worker to permanent Google employee.
Wage and benefits parity for independent contractors, temporary workers, and permanent full-time employees;
Disclosure to temporary workers at the start of their work on a Google contract about their status and when they can expect to transition to permanent full-time employee status;
Limitations on the use of independent contractors and temporary workers to temporary or non-core work that is not already performed by full-time employees;
Prohibition of mandatory nondisclosure agreements about the terms and conditions of employment, including in temporary workers’ contracts with their staffing agencies;
Elimination of all non-compete clauses in all employment contracts, including in temporary workers’ contracts with their staffing agencies; and
Google acceptance of liability for any workplace violations that occur with temporary workers or independent contractors.

Google disagrees with the Senators’ demands

Eileen Naughton, Google’s VP of People Operations strongly disputed the arguments raised in the letter. In response to the senators she wrote, “Respectfully, we strongly disagree with any suggestion that Google misuses independent contractors or temporary workers, Being a temporary worker is not intended to be a path to employment at Google. This fact is clearly stated in Google’s written policies and in its training documents and is applicable for full-time positions through the same hiring process as everyone else.”

“Temporary workers comprise 3% of our total workforce, and do the job of a full-time Google employee but for a short period of time, working on temporary projects, addressing quick needs in business, incubating special projects, or covering for employees who may be on short-term leave, like parental or sick leave,” Naughton said.

She added, “We care about everyone working at Google or on Google-related projects – employees, vendors, temporary staff and contractors alike – and we’re happy to meet with your staff to discuss these issues further.”

The Senators demands is a clear indication that even though some of the organizers have been retaliated against and have been forced to resign, their work has not gone to waste. Google has previously partially acknowledged only one demand from the walkout organizers’ original demands: ending forced arbitration for all its full-time employees but not for Google’s temporary and contract workers.

In April, Google confirmed that its contracted and temporary workforce will receive full benefits, including comprehensive health care, paid parental leave and a $15 minimum wage, The Hill reported. Google’s announcement came after group of 915 Google workers signed on to a letter demanding equal treatment for the company’s temporary workers and contractors.

Meredith Whittaker, Google Walkout organizer and now ex-Googler supported the demands laid out by the Senators.

So did other activists and tech worker organizations.