Google Layoffs – 10,000 Workers Affected reports WebGuild with a bombastic title. I can beat that: all Google workers will be affected, at least emotionally.
As to what the real numbers are, several sources point out that while employee headcount is around 20K, Google has about 10K temporary workers, so whichever way you count, laying off 10K workers would equate to:
- eliminating all the temp positions
- letting go 30% of the (extended) workforce, which seems to be the Silicon Valley rule
- cutting the employee headcount to half (if we ignore temps)
Either way it sounds way too dramatic, a step companies in deep structural trouble would resort to. I seriously doubt this is really coming, but let me be clear: I have no factual information, am simply speculating, or actually responding to speculation.
But there’s something else worth noticing here: the source. WebGuild had a bit of a clash with Google this spring, when Google withdrew their support of the WebGuild events it used to host. Their stated reason was WebGuild’s refusal to change the name of their Web 2.0 Conference & Expo, at O’Reilly’s request. Here are the juicy details in a WebGuild post aptly titled Shame On You Tim O’Reilly. Without getting into details of the original conflict, suffice to say that WebGuild has been on somewhat of a vendetta against Google ever since. They’ve been a little bit too trigger-happy with posts reflecting negatively on Google.
Once again, I do not have factual information, but if this indeed turns out to be false information, I wonder if WebGuild went a step too far this time. (Remember the Steve Jobs death story?)
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Sure does seem to be spiteful hot air again from WebGuild. Props to you for pointing that out, and shame on WebGuild for posting what they likely know to be complete fabrications. And shame on Techmeme for still considering this shrill blog newsworthy
Definitely a step too far (or maybe even a couple of steps) but that does not really mean the discussion is not needed, I think – at least now everyone knows Google has 10k contractors and will probably turn to them to cut costs now. But of course it does not mean all 10k people will be simply let go while to me these stories are simply a good indication of the fact that even Google needs to behave reasonably in a recession.
It has seemed like the blog posts from WebGuild have been too “tabloid” since summer at least. It certainly hurts their “brand” but it also hurts the Silicon Valley community in general when an organization that is well-known continues to send out blog posts that are at best overblown hype.
I’ve stopped watching their blog for the most part and as it continues will probably skip it altogether. I just don’t need unreliable sources.
It is always bad to lose your job. I don’t think no one wants to be unemployed. I bet that google pays thier employ’s pretty good.
It is always bad to lose your job. I don't think no one wants to be unemployed. As it is said that first impression is the last impression so a good resume can put a nice image in the eyes of the people. For that anyone have to refer Sampleresumes.in which have a lots of resume format in that site.