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Google to reduce workforce by 12k

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Re: Google to reduce workforce by 12k

#471

Post by thrwawy74 »

MonkeyClub wrote: post #92
eCa wrote: post #51

I guess someone has to write this comment: > I take full responsibility for the decisions that led us here As usual, he says nothing more what the consequences for him are. It seems like all of the FAANGs have made severe strategic cockups when it comes to hiring lately. I wonder if it will affect their longterm attraction as employers.

> It seems like all of the FAANGs have made severe strategic cockups I’m becoming more and more convinced that they’re preparing for a global recession. I posed such an Ask HN a while ago, before the Microsoft layoffs, where the general takeaway was that there’s no indication for a recession. However, after the 10+12K layoffs by the giants, and constant news about smaller layoffs by smaller companies (in the 100s per…

I'm convinced industry captains are given stronger indicators from the government that a recession is happening. Yes, they have amazing advisors that could feel this out naturally. I also think senators and representatives tell them directly to prepare before the average consumer gives this forethought.

It's in the government's best interest to support those with capital. All the rest of us be damned.

Re: Google to reduce workforce by 12k

#472

Post by osigurdson »

I wonder if some of what is behind this here and at other companies, is the thought that LLMs will make devs more productive thus less are needed. It seems like a reasonable assumption with zero-sum-game mentality. However, I suspect what LLMs actually mean is a more vibrant startup space as fewer people will be able to do more.

Re: Google to reduce workforce by 12k

#473

Post by radu_floricica »

eCa wrote: post #51

I guess someone has to write this comment: > I take full responsibility for the decisions that led us here As usual, he says nothing more what the consequences for him are. It seems like all of the FAANGs have made severe strategic cockups when it comes to hiring lately. I wonder if it will affect their longterm attraction as employers.

Not defending him per se, but the phrase does have a meaning: "I'm not blaming anybody under me for this".

As for what are the consequences for himself, that's definitely not for him to say or chose. It's up to those who hired him.

Re: Google to reduce workforce by 12k

#474

Post by Aunche »

AYBABTME wrote: post #422

Every time I read stuff like: > "Over the past two years we’ve seen periods of dramatic growth. To match and fuel that growth, we hired for a different economic reality than the one we face today." I feel taken for a fool. Every damn body knew that the last 2 years were not representative of the future. Everybody knew that free-money, COVID and related phenomenons were a phase. I can't believe that Google, Shopify, C…

They aren't fools, they just have their own agendas.

Sundar and other Google execs don't actually own that much Google stock, so they have relatively little lose by gambling with company money by over hiring.

From Brian Armstrong's perspective, Coinbase didn't overhire at all. They captured all the crypto revenue they could during the boom, which inflated their stock price while Armstrong was cashing out as much as he could.

Re: Google to reduce workforce by 12k

#475

Post by cbarrick »

ddevault wrote: post #355
makach wrote: post #104

Not a bad email, and a decent follow up on the ones that are affected. It is also a reminder that killing yourself slowly at the workplace is meaningless. Management has no responsibility to you, and no promise is certain. It’s your responsibility to take care of yourself. My take, don’t be bitter. Take the severance as soon as possible and get back on your feet. Having Google on your resume is a very good thing.

Having Google on your resume is not a good thing depending on who's reading it. Googlers generally need to be extensively re-trained on reality outside of companies that cargo-cult Google's practices, and I'll have some questions about the moral compass of anyone who shows up with Google on the resume.

> I'll have some questions about the moral compass of anyone who shows up with Google on the resume.

What about former Microsoft employees? Amazon employees?

Is big tech an ethical issue for you? Or is it just Google?

Re: Google to reduce workforce by 12k

#476

Post by tephra »

AYBABTME wrote: post #422

Every time I read stuff like: > "Over the past two years we’ve seen periods of dramatic growth. To match and fuel that growth, we hired for a different economic reality than the one we face today." I feel taken for a fool. Every damn body knew that the last 2 years were not representative of the future. Everybody knew that free-money, COVID and related phenomenons were a phase. I can't believe that Google, Shopify, C…

In a similar vein, I would like to know what the "and I take full responsibility for this" line that CEOs always say in these emails actually looks like besides just saying it in the email.

Re: Google to reduce workforce by 12k

#477

Post by serial_dev »

eCa wrote: post #51

I guess someone has to write this comment: > I take full responsibility for the decisions that led us here As usual, he says nothing more what the consequences for him are. It seems like all of the FAANGs have made severe strategic cockups when it comes to hiring lately. I wonder if it will affect their longterm attraction as employers.

He takes full responsibility for the decisions.

And the workers will face the consequences of these decisions.

Re: Google to reduce workforce by 12k

#478

Post by PragmaticPulp »

eCa wrote: post #51

I guess someone has to write this comment: > I take full responsibility for the decisions that led us here As usual, he says nothing more what the consequences for him are. It seems like all of the FAANGs have made severe strategic cockups when it comes to hiring lately. I wonder if it will affect their longterm attraction as employers.

These comments show up on every one of these layoff letters, but what do people actually want to see?

The CEO resigning would only send the company further into turmoil and tank the stock (which is a significant portion of employee salary) even further down.

Taking accountability doesn’t mean someone needs to suffer drastic consequences.

Re: Google to reduce workforce by 12k

#479

Post by kick_in_the_dor »

AYBABTME wrote: post #422

Every time I read stuff like: > "Over the past two years we’ve seen periods of dramatic growth. To match and fuel that growth, we hired for a different economic reality than the one we face today." I feel taken for a fool. Every damn body knew that the last 2 years were not representative of the future. Everybody knew that free-money, COVID and related phenomenons were a phase. I can't believe that Google, Shopify, C…

You must be rich from being able to predict the future so well.

Re: Google to reduce workforce by 12k

#480

Post by ctvo »

AYBABTME wrote: post #422

Every time I read stuff like: > "Over the past two years we’ve seen periods of dramatic growth. To match and fuel that growth, we hired for a different economic reality than the one we face today." I feel taken for a fool. Every damn body knew that the last 2 years were not representative of the future. Everybody knew that free-money, COVID and related phenomenons were a phase. I can't believe that Google, Shopify, C…

Give me a break. Everyone knew it wouldn’t have lasted, sure, in the same way we all know China won’t be the manufacturing hub of the world forever or the dollar may not be the primary currency.

When will the transition happen? If you knew exactly, like you seem to be indicating, you should make some money off of it. Otherwise hindsight armchair CEO is dull.

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