Sundar Pichai, Google’s CEO, recently addressed the tough decision to lay off 12,000 employees, amounting to 6% of the workforce. This significant move, which happened a year ago, is the largest downsizing in Google’s history.
During a recent company-wide meeting, Pichai recognized the impact on employee morale, calling it one of the toughest decisions in Google’s 25-year history. He explained that difficult as it was, the layoffs were necessary for the company’s growth.
Pichai defended the decision, stating that avoiding the cuts would have led to more significant challenges in the future. He emphasized the need to free up resources for investment, especially given the rapidly changing global landscape.
While supporting the decision overall, Pichai admitted that the simultaneous and immediate notification of all laid-off employees, regardless of time zones, was not handled well. He acknowledged this as a mistake, expressing a need for a different approach.
In summary, Pichai highlighted the difficulty and necessity of the decision for the company’s future. He also acknowledged a misstep in the handling of layoffs, signaling a commitment to improvements in the future.
