Former Google CEO apologizes after blaming remote work for company’s loss of competitive edge
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt has retracted his controversial comments about working from home during a talk at Stanford University.
In an email to The Wall Street JournalSchmidt said: “I misrepresented Google and their hours.” The former CEO added: “I regret my mistake.”
Schmidt previously noted that Google was falling behind in the AI competition because the emphasis was on work-life balance (including flexible work options) rather than on office productivity.
Former Google CEO Criticizes WFH
During the Stanford discussion, Schmidt said, “Google decided that work-life balance, going home early and working from home was more important than winning.” He added that startups succeed because of their intense work cultures, suggesting that Google has become complacent.
Schmidt admits he was mistaken about Google’s attitude towards work-life balance and has now reportedly requested that the video be removed.
But regardless of Schmidt’s style of discussion, his thoughts echo those of many leaders around the world. Tech companies in particular have been vocal about the impact of remote and hybrid work on productivity, with many now implementing standard three-day office work mandates.
Alphabet Workers Union, which represents about 1,000 Google employees in the U.S. and Canada, posted a message on X Responding to headlines that flexible working has no negative impact on productivity, he added that “understaffing, shifting priorities, constant layoffs, stagnant wages and lack of management follow-up on projects” are to blame.
Google has made eight separate layoff announcements since the beginning of this year (via fired.fyi) after 12,000 employees left early last year.