[slumpt_]

Been at Google for several years.

20% time is dead for all intents and purposes in all of the teams I worked (~4 dif teams).

I would not join Google and bank on having it. It’s usually 120% time and done as a way to soft-interview for a team you want to join.

[larsrc]

Clearly you need to find better teams. It's always been an option on the teams I've been on.

[stevage]

>and done as a way to soft-interview for a team you want to join

Clearly it's not that easy.

[slumpt_]

I will say that usually it is easy to move teams, but if the expertise of the team veers strongly from your background (web dev wants to work on C++) they might ask if you want to do 20% first to get a taste. Also can help convince a team to take a more junior hire, e.g.

I’m not sure if it’s ever been an explicit requirement and if you have strong performance reviews it’s usually pretty well-oiled.

Real 20% time though I don’t think I’ve ever encountered.

Maybe if you work on a team without a high-traffic product (internal tooling?).

[slumpt_]

YMMV, that’s all I’m saying. Don’t come in expecting it or you’ll be disappointed. And that’s resonated with other coworkers of mine on other teams, too.