Google’s cost-cutting measures have garnered widespread attention, with several international media outlets reporting on the gradual reduction of employee benefits. Former employees have voiced their concerns over the diminishing perks, including the elimination of free massages and the closure of fitness centers, which they once enjoyed. These cutbacks have left many questioning the company’s priorities in the wake of a mass layoff that affected 6% of its workforce. It remains to be seen how Google’s employees will be impacted in the long term. The alarming trend is captured in the title “Google Employees Face Perk Reductions Post-Mass Layoff: Free Massages and Fitness Centers Cut Back” which highlights the extent of the benefit reductions that have taken place.
Reduced Cafeteria Hours: Adjustments in Perks for Efficiency
One of the most significant cutbacks is the reduction in the hours of operation for the company’s cafes. Business Insider reports that Google has also extended the duration for the replacement of devices, such as laptops. “The perks have been slowly disappearing. They were being stripped down gradually,” stated one engineer who had worked at Google for around 15 years. Other benefits that have been temporarily cut include free massages and the closure of campus shuttle buses and fitness centers.
Scaling Back Corporate Catering: Adapting to Perk Reduction Measures
Corporate catering was another area where Google used to excel. However, the company has reportedly scaled back food options in recent years. “Food was the greatest perk at Google,” said another laid-off employee, adding that food budgets were “scaled back” towards the end of the 2010s. Another employee claimed that the food options at Google’s Cambridge, Boston office were “significantly reduced from their pre-pandemic heights,” with little variation between weeks.
Some employees have disagreed with the claims of reduced food quality, but it’s clear that the trend is concerning. The company has also curbed spending on employee travel, limiting it to “business critical” trips only. Furthermore, some laid-off employees have reported that Google has cut spending on merchandise, with one former technical program manager stating that she received a “really cheap jacket and backpack” upon joining the organisation in 2022.
Cutting Holiday Gifts and Travel: Addressing Perk Reductions
Google owned by Alphabet has also reduced the benefits it gives employees as holiday gifts. The company used to offer phones to employees, but now reportedly replaces gadgets and cash bonuses with $400 donations to a charity of their choice.
This cost-cutting trend comes after the company announced the layoff of around 12,000 workers, accounting for 6% of its workforce. While cost-cutting measures are common in business, the trend at Google is worrying for employees who have come to expect a high level of benefits and perks from the company. It remains to be seen what the future holds for Google’s workforce.
