Google employees pressure costumed execs at all-hands meeting for clarity on cost cuts
Following comments on Google's earnings call about continuing cuts, employees wanted answers at the company's latest all-hands meeting.
Alphabet executives, donning Halloween costumes, faced questions from concerned employees at an all-hands meeting on Wednesday, following comments on the company's earnings call suggesting that more cost cuts are coming.
"There is a reality to it," said Brian Ong, vice president of Google recruiting, according to a recording of the meeting reviewed by CNBC. "We are hiring less than we did a couple of years ago."
Ong, who was specifically responding to a question about retention and promotion opportunities, added that fewer positions are open and geographic hiring has changed, "so you may see fewer roles available where you are."
A Google spokesperson declined to comment.
The meeting came after Alphabet reported better-than-expected third-quarter earnings and revenue Tuesday, sparking a rally in the stock. On a call with investors, CFO Anat Ashkenazi, who recently succeeded Ruth Porat, proclaimed she wanted to "push a little further" with cost savings across the company.
Google's chief scientist, Jeff Dean, wore a starfish costume to the meeting, while Ashkenazi sported a jersey of former Indiana Pacers star Reggie Miller. CEO Sundar Pichai wore a black t-shirt that read "ERROR 404 COSTUME NOT FOUND" with an image of a pixelated dinosaur.
Ashkenazi said one of her key priorities in the new role would be to make more cuts as Google expands its spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure in 2025.
It's a theme that began in 2023, when the economy and market turned, and has continued since. Google has been restructuring its workforce to move more quickly in the AI arms race, where it faces increased competition. That's included layoffs, organizational shake-ups, and has led to workers feeling a "decline in morale," as CNBC previously reported.