Google CEO Pichai tells employees not to ‘equate fun with money’ in heated all-hands meeting

As Google tries to navigate the unfamiliar environment of slowing growth, cost-cutting and employee dissent over cultural changes, CEO Sundar Pichai is on the defensive. From the report: At the company’s general meeting this week, Pichai faced tough questions from employees related to cuts in travel and entertainment budgets, performance management and potential layoffs, according to an audio recording obtained by CNBC. In a question highly praised by Google’s internal Dory staff, Pichai questioned why the company is “killing employees” by cutting travel and bribery budgets at a time when “Google has record profits and huge cash reserves.” ” as it was after the Covid pandemic. — How do you say that? Pichai began his measured response. “Listen, I hope you all read the news, on the outside. The fact that you know we’re a little bit more responsible through some of the toughest macroeconomic conditions that we’ve had in the last decade, I think it’s important that as a company we come together to get through these times.”