Google is the UK's best employer, but that's not the whole story
.png)
Google is officially the best place to work in the UK, according to new figures from job site Glassdoor. Based on positive feedback from its own staff, Google climbed 12 places from last year, beating other tech giants such as Microsoft and Apple.
A tsunami of comments from staff and former staff such as “great place to work if you enjoy working with bright people” or “perks definitely makes the place nice to work”, makes it easy to believe that Google is a workplace utopia. But employee comments in the US paint a damning picture.
“Worst company I have ever worked for...dodon't believe the public image,” reads one review. “Hiding behind money and playing with people's and user's emotions,” another employee claims. A barrage of these comments have caused Google to drop out of the top ten in identical rankings run by Glassdoor in the US.
There is an internal war raging within the company’s ranks across the Atlantic – and based on the Glassdoor results, this doesn’t bother UK staff. Tense standoffs with management and organised walkouts have become a regular occurrence at Google offices in the US, as employees protest over plans to work with the Pentagon and to build a censored search engine in China.
“The company’s code of conduct states unequivocally: ‘don’t be evil, and if you see something that you think isn’t right – speak up!’ And we did,” the Google Walkout organisers, who have become the voice of disgruntled employees, state on Twitter.
Last month, matters escalated. Google is now under federal investigation for firing four employees involved intense clashes with management last month. The “Thanksgiving four” filed a charge on December 5, claiming that they were punished for encouraging other colleagues to protest. Google says their activism had nothing to do with their dismissal – instead, it claims the four former employees were let go after they accessed and disseminated other employees’ work.
Some of these battles have even extended to the UK. In 2018, hundreds of staff left their desks as part of an organised global walkout to protest the company’s mishandling of sexual harassment claims, after press reports revealed Android founder Andy Rubin received a $90 million (£68m) exit package despite claims of sexual misconduct. The effort, which was sanctioned by management and saw staff in the US take over the Google campus with speeches and protest signs, was a muted affair in the UK, largely held indoors due to the wet weather.
These walkouts were not enough to trigger seismic change within Google, protestors have claimed. Chelsey Glasson, who worked at the company for five and a half years, claims she faced retaliation when she spoke up about pregnancy discrimination. She says she was pushed out of her team when she stood up for a pregnant colleague, and she was held back from a manager position because she was pregnant herself. Glasson says Google tried to “tarnish the reputation” of people like her rather than intervening and providing support. “There are so many good people still at Google, who want to do the right thing, and are speaking up,” she explains. “But the more that Google silences and threatens the careers of those who speak out, the harder it is.”
In response to previous questions about its culture, Google has said it provides "multiple channels to report concerns, including anonymously, and investigate all allegations of retaliation".
This week employees launched a petition demanding that Google stop retaliation and scare tactics against workers. Since co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin stepped down as leaders of Google parent company Alphabet this month, uncertainty has grown about what will happen to Google’s “open culture”.
There is a notable absence of UK voices within this worker movement, despite the fact that any big cultural change will certainly affect the projects and culture of the entire business, not just in the US. None of the comments on Glassdoor, which cannot be censored by the company, questioned the commercial deals that Google has pursued or addressed the silencing of victims that protestors say is happening across the business.
Instead, over 900 reviews praised the free food at the company, with breakfast, lunch and dinner available on site. There is also a free gym with personal trainers, group fitness classes and organized recreation activities.
“Google is probably always going to be in the top 50 due to its reputation and what it’s able to offer as an employer,” says Jo Cresswell, a spokesperson from Glassdoor. “But I don't think it will necessarily retain the number one spot.” The eligibility period for this year’s ranking ended in October before the latest employee scandal, so it will be up to current employees to judge Google on its culture – rather than just its perks.
source wired
Latest Jobs
-
- Account Manager - IT Services
- Germany
- €90000 plus OTE and Car
-
Are you a deal closer with a hunter mindset? Do you know how to uncover business pain points, and turn them into long-term digital transformation partnerships? Our Client are growing their sales force across Germany and looking for an ambitious, straight-talking Account Manager to take the lead on new client acquisition. You’ll focus on mid-sized to large enterprises across Germany helping to shape their digital future with tailored IT solutions in Workplace, Cloud, and Security. • Drive Growth: Own the full sales cycle for new business across your region. • Solution Sell: Build bespoke offers in Security, Digital Workplace and Cloud solutions • Build Relationships: Establish a solid pipeline through smart prospecting, marketing-driven leads, and your own network. • Represent a brand known for trust, delivery, and tech excellence—with 4,000 employees globally and a growing team within Germany. What You Bring • Proven new logo sales experience in the IT services space (not hardware!) • Deep knowledge in one or more of: Cybersecurity, Digital Workplace, or Cloud • Confidence to lead enterprise deals and pitch directly to senior stakeholders • Fluent German and good English skills Sind Sie ein Abschlussprofi mit Hunter-Mentalität? Wissen Sie, wie man geschäftliche Pain Points identifiziert und in langfristige Partnerschaften zur digitalen Transformation verwandelt? Unser Kunde baut derzeit sein Vertriebsteam in ganz Deutschland aus und sucht eine ambitionierte, ehrliche Persönlichkeit als Account Manager, die den Lead bei der Neukundengewinnung übernimmt. Ihr Fokus liegt auf mittelständischen bis großen Unternehmen in Deutschland, denen Sie mit maßgeschneiderten IT-Lösungen in den Bereichen Workplace, Cloud und Security den Weg in die digitale Zukunft ebnen. Ihre Aufgaben • Wachstum vorantreiben: Verantwortung für den gesamten Vertriebszyklus im Neugeschäft Ihrer Region. • Lösungsorientierter Vertrieb: Entwicklung individueller Angebote in den Bereichen Security, Digital Workplace und Cloud-Lösungen. • Beziehungen aufbauen: Aufbau einer stabilen Pipeline durch gezielte Ansprache, marketinggenerierte Leads und Ihr eigenes Netzwerk. • Marke repräsentieren: Werden Sie Teil eines Unternehmens mit 4.000 Mitarbeitenden weltweit und einem stark wachsenden Team in Deutschland – bekannt für Vertrauen, Verlässlichkeit und technologische Exzellenz. Was Sie mitbringen • Nachgewiesene Erfahrung in der Neukundenakquise im Bereich IT-Services (kein Hardwarevertrieb!) • Fundiertes Wissen in mindestens einem der Bereiche: Cybersecurity, Digital Workplace oder Cloud • Selbstbewusstes Auftreten im Umgang mit Enterprise-Deals und Entscheidungsträgern auf Top-Level • Verhandlungssichere Deutschkenntnisse und gute Englischkenntnisse
-
- Senior SOC Analyst Level 3. Microsoft Security stack | Ability to achieve SC Clearance
- London
- To attract the right person
-
Job Title: Senior SOC Analyst Level 3. Microsoft Security stack | Ability to achieve SC Clearance Location: Hybrid remote | London / Berkshire Overview: Senior SOC Analyst Level 3 to join a specialist Managed Security Services business. You will be responsible for advanced threat hunting / triage, incident response etc with a strong focus on the Microsoft Security Stack. Key Responsibilities: Lead and resolve complex security incidents / escalations Conduct advanced threat hunting using the Microsoft Security Stack. Build, optimise and maintain workbooks, rules, analytics etc. Correlate data across Microsoft 365 Defender, Azure Defender and Sentinel. Perform root cause analysis and post-incident reporting. Aid in mentoring and upskilling Level 1 and 2 SOC analysts. Required Skills & Experience: The ability to achieve UK Security Clearance (SC) – existing clearance ideal. (Sorry no visa applications) Current experience working with a SOC environment Microsoft Sentinel: Development and tuning of custom analytic rules. Workbook creation and dashboarding. Automation using Playbooks and SOAR integration. Kusto Query Language (KQL): Writing complex, efficient queries for advanced threat hunting and detection. Correlating data across key tables (e.g., SignInLogs, SecurityEvent, OfficeActivity, DeviceEvents). Developing custom detection rules, optimising performance, and reducing false positives. Supporting Sentinel Workbooks, Alerts, and Playbooks through advanced KQL use. Deep understanding of incident response, threat intelligence and adversary techniques (MITRE ATT&CK framework). Strong knowledge of cloud and hybrid security, particularly within Azure. Additional Requirements: Must hold or be eligible to achieve a minimum of Security Clearance (SC) level. Nice to have certifications (e.g., SC-200, AZ-500, GIAC) are desirable. Strong problem-solving and analytical skills. Excellent communication for clear documentation and team collaboration. Please follow Wheaton’s Law.
-
- New Business Sales Hunter | Cyber Security (UK Based)
- London
- To attract the right person
-
New Business Sales Hunter needed | Cybersecurity (UK Based) Are you looking for uncapped commission, a fun and sociable team that drives success with no politics? If so...You must Be UK based - and able to achieve UK SC clearance. (sorry no visas) Have a demonstrable history of sales success in Cyber Security Follow Weatons law. The role: Seeking a proven New Business Sales Hunter to join an established, successful and expanding cyber security firm. New business focused - £1m GP year one target (ramped). Sell a blend of security services & professional services. Ideal experience selling some or all of the following Cyber strategy & risk management Managed detection & response (MDR) Penetration testing Compliance & audit support You: Strong cybersecurity/IT services sales track record. Confident selling into mid-market & enterprise. UK based - London commutable 1x per week. Hunter mindset, full sales cycle ownership. Don't just send an email to apply give me a call on 07884666351
-
- CyberArk Architect
- London
- Upto £110,000 plus bonus and benefits
-
Are you ready to lead from the front and drive innovation in the Identity & Access Management (IAM) space? We’re looking for a seasoned CyberArk Architect who has CDE-CPC ideally or experience with privilege Cloud, someone who can lead with vision, execute with precision, and inspire teams to deliver excellence. As a key leader in our organisation, you’ll bring your strong business acumen and a technology-focused, innovative mindset to the table. You’ll be driving strategic initiatives, shaping transformation programs, and empowering teams to think big and deliver even bigger. Acting as a subject matter expert in CyberArk Leading strategic transformations in: Identity Governance Privileged Access Management (PAM) Access Management Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM) Building and maintaining strong, collaborative relationships within the team Communicating clearly and confidently — both written and verbal — to deliver updates, raise potential issues, and share insights If you are interested in the above position we are looking for people with: deep expertise and a successful track record in IAM strategy, delivery, or assurance with CyberArk Hold relevant certifications such as CDE in Privileged Cloud or Guardian Have experience in a client-facing role (preferred, but not essential) Thrive in a hybrid working environment and are available to work from our or client London office three days a week Lead with clarity, communicate with impact, and adapt quickly to changing priorities