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 wiredIndustry: Cloud Computing
Latest Jobs
-
- Cyber Security Professional Services Lead | London | Immediate
- London
- N/A
-
Cyber Security Professional Services Lead London / Hybrid This role leads the delivery function for a cyber security professional services team, with ownership of utilisation, delivery quality, and team performance across multiple client programmes. You will drive billable utilisation, ensure projects are delivered on time and to standard, and manage resource planning across a complex portfolio. Acting as the escalation point for key engagements, you will also lead and develop a high-performing consulting team, maintaining strong client relationships and consistent delivery standards. Key responsibilities: Drive utilisation and delivery performance Ensure quality, on-time delivery across engagements Manage resource planning and capacity Act as escalation point for key programmes Lead and develop the consulting team Background: Currently leading a cyber or technology professional services function Recent track record improving utilisation and delivery outcomes Experience across multi-client, complex programmes Strong senior stakeholder engagement A hands-on leadership role with accountability for delivery, team performance, and commercial outcomes
-
- Cyber Security Sales | Enterprise | New Business | London
- City of London
- Uncapped OTE
-
Enterprise Account Executive | Cyber Security | UK London / UK (hybrid with client engagement) A scaling cyber security firm is hiring an Enterprise Account Executive to drive growth across large UK organisations. This role blends new business with ownership. You will open doors, create demand, and win enterprise accounts, then retain and grow those relationships into long-term, high-value partnerships. Targeting senior stakeholders at CISO, CIO, and board level, you will shape and close complex deals across cyber security, cloud, and transformation programmes. This is a strategic role. Fewer accounts, higher value, longer cycles. You are expected to build pipeline from scratch, with support around you but without reliance on inbound or marketing. A recent and consistent track record of achieving or exceeding sales targets is essential. This role requires someone currently performing at a high level in enterprise sales. UK-based, with remote working and client engagement as needed. Competitive base and uncapped earnings, with scope to build a meaningful enterprise portfolio.
-
- Cyber Security Sales | Financial Services | New Business | London
- England
- Uncapped OTE
-
New Business Lead | Cyber Security | Financial Services | London / UK UK Remote / London client travel A well-backed cyber security and technology firm is looking to hire a senior New Business Lead to drive UK growth, with a particular focus on Financial Services. This is a position for someone who knows how to open doors where others cannot. A role built around identifying opportunity, challenging incumbents, and converting that into long-term client relationships and revenue. You will own new logo acquisition across FS, working closely with leadership to shape go-to-market strategy and position across cyber security, cloud, and modernisation offerings. Full ownership of the sales lifecycle. Pipeline creation, deal strategy, negotiation, and close. The expectation is simple. Build momentum, win key accounts, and scale a function around you as revenue grows. Strong experience selling into Financial Services environments is key. Credibility at CISO, CIO, and board level matters. Remote-first, with London and client engagement as required. Competitive base, uncapped earnings, and genuine scope to build something meaningful. The successful sales person MUST have a recent history and current experinece of achieving / overachieving against sales target.