Google has come under public attention for continuing to pay some employees full-time salaries despite their lack of active work assignments.
The situation reportedly stems from delays in project launches following internal restructuring, causing a temporary mismatch between staffing and available tasks.
The employees affected are part of teams whose projects were either paused or cancelled. These teams are now left waiting for reassignment or new directives. While still officially employed, many have shared that they currently have no concrete duties to perform. Some are spending their days attending check-ins, reading, or simply waiting for updates from management.
This situation has developed as Google reorganizes its workforce and shifts focus to new strategic priorities. The company has gone through rounds of job cuts and changes across departments in recent months. However, not every team has transitioned smoothly, leading to gaps where staff are paid but have no immediate role.
The employees in question are mainly those in engineering, design, and support roles. Many were previously working on experimental or long-term projects that have now been shelved. With no clear timeline for redeployment, some workers say they feel uncertain about their future at the company, despite continuing to receive their pay.
This move reflects a broader trend in big tech, where large companies are finding it difficult to align staffing levels with changing business goals. While Google has not publicly confirmed the number of idle employees, insiders say the company is working to place them in active teams as quickly as possible.
As the tech industry continues to adapt to economic pressures and shifting market demands, situations like this raise questions about workforce management and long-term planning. For now, Google remains committed to keeping these employees on payroll until more productive roles are available.