There’s something unusual about the employment contracts at Google DeepMind, the AI-focused subsidiary of Alphabet (Google’s parent company). Some employees can earn a full year’s salary—even if they don’t do any work.
This stems from a non-compete clause commonly found in contracts across major tech firms like Google. The clause is designed to prevent employees from jumping ship to rival companies—especially in the high-stakes world of artificial intelligence, where talent is everything.
The competition in the AI industry is so fierce that DeepMind would rather pay top employees to do nothing for a year than risk them working for a competitor. The salary they receive during this period depends on several factors, including their seniority and the importance of their role.
One former DeepMind employee, who chose to remain anonymous, said they even considered relocating from the UK to California just to break free from the restrictive clause. They described the policy as a “misuse of power,” pointing out that people who no longer contribute to the company are still receiving bonuses.
This ex-employee criticized the practice, arguing it’s unhealthy for the broader industry. They worry that if more AI startups adopt similar contracts, it could lead to a talent bottleneck—locking skilled workers into inactive roles for up to a year.
The effect? Talented professionals are left waiting out their contracts while potential employers miss out on hiring them. That’s a lost opportunity for both sides.
Despite the criticism, Google defends the clause. A spokesperson told Business Insider, “Our employment agreements are in line with market standards. Given the sensitivity of our work, we use non-competes to protect the company’s interests.”
In the UK, such agreements are legal as long as they are deemed reasonable and meant to safeguard business interests. But things are different in the U.S., where non-compete laws vary by state. In fact, in California—where Google is headquartered—non-compete clauses are generally not enforceable at all.
