Google offers employees free electric scooters to get them back to the office

Photo by James Bareham / The Verge

As an added bonus, it will be giving its employees free electric scooters to help them transition back to work.

The tech giant is teaming up with e-scooter maker Unagi to launch a new program called Ride Scoot, in which most of the company's US-based workers can get reimbursed for the full cost of a monthly subscription. The Model One is a lightweight scooter with a top speed of 20mph and a range of 15 miles.

The idea was to make it easier for employees to get to work. There is free shuttle bus service to its employees in Silicon Valley.

People got used to working from home. They are just trying to improve the experience of coming back.

Two years after the upended work patterns of the Pandemic, employers are doubling down on office real estate, causing conflict with a workforce that has grown accustomed to working at home. Over the course of the Pandemic, Google spent billions on expanding its footprint, a sign that it is bullish about employees eventually returning to work. In case there is a problem, the company has shown a willingness to spend money on perks to entice workers back.

One possible incentive is free scooters, which has been found by a willing partner in Unagi. The Oakland-based company raised over $10 million in venture capital funding last year and also launched a subscription as an alternative to ownership. Customers in select cities can get one of Unagi's Model One delivered to their front door for $49 a month. There is a $50 sign-up fee, but the monthly fee includes insurance from scooter theft or damage.

Unagi will be giving out free scooters to every employee of the company. Unagi plans on setting up booths at various offices of the company to sign up employees for a monthly scooter subscription at a discounted rate of $44.10 per month, plus a $50Enrollment fee, which will be fully reimbursed by the company. Scooter subscriptions will be added to the internal employee portal. Employees will be able to try out the Model One on demo days hosted by Unagi.

Employees have to use the scooter for at least nine commute per month to be fully reimbursed. The honor system will be used and employees won't be tracked. Other eligible locations include Mountain View, as well as Seattle, Irvine, Playa Vista, Austin, and New York City.

Unagi has made deals with other large employers to add electric scooters as a transportation perk for employees, either as a reimbursement or at a discounted rate. He is working with hotels and residences to place Unagi's scooters in the lobby.

We hope other companies do the same.