Google to reduce workforce by 12k • Hacker News Board

Re: Google to reduce workforce by 12k

#41

Post by bongobingo1 » Fri, Jan 20, 2023, 10:45 AM UTC

herodoturtle wrote: post #16

laserlight wrote: post #8

Can we update the title to let everyone know of the size: 12000?

Out of a total of roughly 140,000 employees (according to Wikipedia as of 2021). So a tad less than 10% of their workforce. Just thought I'd add that for perspective.

I saw a comment on the recent MS layoffs of 10k, after they hired 40k in the last 2-3 years (iirc), so they were still up 30k jobs...

Re: Google to reduce workforce by 12k

#42

Post by kypro » Fri, Jan 20, 2023, 10:45 AM UTC

ak_111 wrote: post #11

bearmode wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not been laid off myself, but I'm still being absolutely hounded by recruiters. There are still a ton of tech jobs out there, at least in the UK.

Interesting I am not noticing this in the UK, what part of tech do you work in?

I'm from the UK. I got laid off in the first week of Jan and accepted a new contract role yesterday. The market was extremely quiet last week, but it seemed to pick up quite a bit this week. I'd guess it depends on experience and stuff, but there does seem to be stuff out there...

What I did notice was less tech companies seemed to be recruiting. Almost all of the roles I was approached for were in industries like finance, retail, healthcare, etc.

Re: Google to reduce workforce by 12k

#43

Post by iLoveOncall » Fri, Jan 20, 2023, 10:45 AM UTC

> As part of that, if you are just starting your work day, please feel free to work from home today.

What a generous offer.

Re: Google to reduce workforce by 12k

#44

Post by swyx » Fri, Jan 20, 2023, 10:45 AM UTC

5350-uiop-1130 wrote: post #29

robbiet480 wrote: post #6

This week: Amazon 18,000 Microsoft 10,000 Alphabet/Google 12,000

is it possible that this is all a response to falling stock price. it seem historically a quick fix for any CEO to bump the stock price is to make layoffs, and it seems to work. and i don't think any of those companies are strapped for cash

most good ceos, and definitely ceo's at this level, know not to overreact to stock price which is very macro and short term driven, when they should be playing the 10-20 year game.

Re: Google to reduce workforce by 12k

#45

Post by cdiddy2 » Fri, Jan 20, 2023, 10:46 AM UTC

neodypsis wrote: post #2

Amazon and Meta I can understand why. But why Microsoft and now Google? What positions were affected in Google? Just developers?

Cost of employees has gone up as stocks drop due to such high RSU compensation. Stock is 40% off its highs which means they have to make up that difference in either cash or more stock, and neither look good to investors at the moment so smooth the financials 10% layoffs is the go to for large tech here.

Re: Google to reduce workforce by 12k

#46

Post by kmac_ » Fri, Jan 20, 2023, 10:46 AM UTC

Silverback_VII wrote: post #13

Well, developing AI systems which are able to replace you and your abilities was not the best idea I guess.

Wait until everyone realize there is no AI but a really large statistical string concatenate machine.

Edit: I forgot /s

Re: Google to reduce workforce by 12k

#47

Post by durnygbur » Fri, Jan 20, 2023, 10:46 AM UTC

oh hello my brain teaser, and algorithm puzzle loving friends. Welcome to the job search market!

Re: Google to reduce workforce by 12k

#48

Post by sai_c » Fri, Jan 20, 2023, 10:46 AM UTC

Does anyone know what "Outside the US, we’ll support employees in line with local practices." exactly means?

In Germany I could imagine it to be "You're fired. Go to the Arbeitsagentur and find a new job". Of course within the legal forewarning period.

Re: Google to reduce workforce by 12k

#49

Post by ta988 » Fri, Jan 20, 2023, 10:46 AM UTC

guerrilla wrote: post #20

afandian wrote: post #9

> Pivoting the company to be AI-first years ago That seems like a weird thing to throw in there. Does anyone else read it as a hasty "we were doing AI before ChatGPT was cool"?

Hopefully someone can inform us as to whether they did announce such a pivot (I have no memory of that) but it wouldn't surprise me. ChatGPT feels a lot like search-without-citations to me, and the closest existing thing in production to it is the blurb at the top of Google results, which I suppose will soon be replaced by this kind of thing (if they can ever get it to stop lying.)

It is not lying, it is not conscious. It is just displaying whatever it says using confidence filled sentences.

Re: Google to reduce workforce by 12k

#50

Post by rfoo » Fri, Jan 20, 2023, 10:47 AM UTC

rk06 wrote: post #18

robbiet480 wrote: post #6

This week: Amazon 18,000 Microsoft 10,000 Alphabet/Google 12,000

Microsoft mentioned 10,000. Where did you get 11000 from?

I also remembered the 11k number and just did a search in my browsing history. Turns out there was a rumor saying 11k, with Microsoft said it was not true shortly before they announced the 10k layoff.

Since it all happened in the same week, it is pretty confusing. At least to me.