Googler Says He Does 20% Time, Not 120% Time As Former Google Executive Claimed

Business Insider reports that former Google executive, and now CEO of Yahoo, Marissa Mayer claimed 20% time really didn't exist. It was more like Google's worked 100% time on their real projects and then if they wanted to work extra, they could have, but outside of their normal responsibilities. A Dilbert comic strip mocked that back in 2011 and Marissa Mayer is saying it was true now, or was reported saying it was true now.

A Googler named Colin McMillen picked up on the article and said Mayer is wrong and he is proof of that.

Colin McMillen said on Google+ said that what Mayer is saying is weird to him. He wrote:

Marissa says 20% time doesn't exist. That's pretty weird to me, since my 20% project (started in 2010, still ongoing) is in Eric Schmidt's book. :P And no, I don't work "120% time" to work on it.

He added later on that his typical day is arrive around 9-9:30 and then leave around 5:30-6:30.

Maybe Colin is not the norm or maybe Mayer is lying or maybe she was misquoted? Who knows.

Forum discussion at Google+.