Google CEO Tells Workers They Don't Need Money to Have Fun

While the Big Tech giant is in the midst of cutting costs and slowing hiring, the CEO of one of the world's richest companies doesn't want to discuss money with his employees. He wants them to stop equating fun with money.

CNBC obtained an audio recording of the meeting in which Pichai made his comments. At the meeting in New York with a live audience of Googlers, employees asked the CEO why the company was cutting entertainment budgets and perks at a time when it had record profits.

One of the toughest macroeconomic situations of the past decade has prompted the company to be a bit more responsible, according to the CEO.

Pichai talked about how cost-cutting affected fun at work. He was trying to justify changes to the company's culture and perks.

At the meeting, Pichai said that he remembers when the company was small and focused. "We shouldn't equate fun with money." People may be having fun in a startup, but it shouldn't be seen as a sign of wealth.

There is no excuse for the question about perks. At least to us peasants, Big Tech employees have benefited from mind- boggling perks. Massage therapists, cooking classes, at- home fitness, and art programs are included on the benefits page.

Some of the perks may not go away. Employees were told at the all-hands meeting to expect smaller and more informal holiday and New Year celebrations, and to try not to go over the top.

When it came to the restrictions on travel, some employees pointed out that they had to follow the company's return-to-office policy but also stress there was no need to travel. In April, it was announced that employees would have to be in the office at least three days a week.

The new travel policy was not an ideal one. Employees could work better if they saw each other in person.

"If you haven't seen your team in a while and it'll help your work by getting together in person, I think you can do that" We are giving discretion to teams and that is why we are not saying no to travel.

When it came to employee raises, equity, and bonuses, officials at the company pointed out that they would continue to pay employees at the top end of the market.

The company was committed to taking care of employees, according to Pichai. That likely includes its highest earning executives, who in 2021 earned a total compensation of between at least 14 million and more than 28 million, according to parent company Alphabet. The total compensation was $6.3 million.

The CEO of the company didn't respond to questions about executive compensation.

By the time of publication, Gizmodo had not received a response from the search engine.