Inside Google's shadow workforce of contract laborers

They eat in Google's cafeterias, ride its commuter shuttles and work alongside its celebrated geeks. They aren't entitled to stock and can't enter certain offices. Many don't have health insurance. Before each weekly Google all-hands meeting, trays of hors d'oeuvres and, sometimes, kegs of beer are carted into an auditorium and satellite offices around the globe for employees, who wear white badges. Those without white badges are asked to return to their desks. Google's Alphabet Inc. employs hordes of these red-badged contract workers in addition to its full-fledged staff. They serve meals and clean offices.