---
title: "Google CEO Incredulous at Employees Mad About Loss of Perks"
description: "What In the days of Big Tech fast, Google firmluy                           “How do I say it?” Pichai began his measured response. “Look, I hope all of you are reading the news, externally. The fact that you know, we are being a bit more […]"
date: "2022-09-24"
modified: "2022-09-24"
authors:
  - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré"
    job_title: "Senior Staff Writer"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/google-ceo-employees-perks"
categories:
  - "Artificial Intelligence"
  - "Future Society"
  - "Google"
tags:
  - "big tech"
  - "Google"
  - "silicon valley"
  - "the digest"
---

# Google CEO Incredulous at Employees Mad About Loss of Perks

![Google's crackdown continues, and according to internal audio obtained by CNBC, the tension between Googlers and their CEO, Sundar Pichai, is growing.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/google-ceo-employees-perks.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: \<a href="https://www.gettyimages.com/search/photographer?photographer=NurPhoto" target="\_blank"\>NurPhoto via Getty / Futurism\</a\>\</em\>*

## Google Vexed

In the days of Silicon Valley past, Google made sure to cement itself as the tech world's resident Cool Boss. But not anymore! The company's [productivity crackdown](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/google-employees-work-mandate>) continues, and [according to internal audio obtained by *CNBC*](<https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/23/google-ceo-pichai-fields-questions-on-cost-cuts-at-all-hands-meeting-.html>), the tension between forlorn Googlers and their CEO, Sundar Pichai, is growing.

"I remember when Google was small and scrappy," Pichai told employees at a companywide all-hands meeting this week, where he fielded questions from employees regarding slowdowns in staffing, travel, entertainment, "swag" budgets, and more.

"We shouldn't always equate fun with money," the frustrated exec reportedly continued. "I think you can walk into a hard-working startup and people may be having fun and it shouldn't always equate to money."

## Cut Wait

Google hasn't had a great financial year, so it's not terribly surprising that it's trying to cut some fat. The past two quarters have been less than stellar, and according to *CNBC*, its third quarter earnings are expected to be down 40 percent from the previous year.

Company staffers, however, who have famously enjoyed some relatively exorbitant employee perks, aren't thrilled by the belt-tightening. During the tumultuous all-hands meeting, they even accused the operation of "nickel-and-diming" workers by cutting travel and swag funds.

"Look, I hope all of you are reading the news," the CEO responded, citing the broader economic woes and internal bureaucratic expansion as the root of the company's ongoing issues. "We are being a bit more responsible through one of the toughest macroeconomic conditions underway in the past decade."

## Stick Together

Pichai reportedly dodged some additional questions regarding whether top execs, who rake in many millions collectively, will take any pay cuts themselves. An interesting choice, given that elsewhere in the meeting, he called for unity and sacrifice.

"I think it's important that as a company," Pichai urged his angst-ridden Googlers, "we pull together to get through moments like this."

To Pichai's credit, culture changes are tough, especially for a notoriously bean-bag-forward operation. But that said, he's right that times *are* tough. And clearly, their employees aren't taking those changes lying down. Not in their [at-work sleep pods](<https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/sep/11/google-sleep-pods-yelp-beer-work-leisure-offices>), at least.

**READ MORE:** [*Google CEO Pichai tells employees not to 'equate fun with money'* in heated all-hands meeting](<https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/23/google-ceo-pichai-fields-questions-on-cost-cuts-at-all-hands-meeting-.html>) \[*CNBC*\]

**More on The Great Googler Reckoning:** *[Google Employees Alarmed That the Company Suddenly Expects Them to Do Work](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/google-employees-work-mandate>)*

## Author
At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride."

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/mharrisondupre.bsky.social>)