Google has laid off 10 percent of its managerial staff as part of an ongoing effort to improve efficiency and redefine its corporate culture, particularly the concept of ‘Googleyness’. CEO Sundar Pichai revealed the decision during a company-wide meeting on Wednesday, explaining that the cuts will affect roles at the manager, director and vice president levels. While some employees will move to individual contributor positions, others will face role elimination entirely.
What is ‘Googleyness’?
‘Googleyness’ is a term used by Google to describe the traits and qualities that make a person a good fit for the company. However, the definition of the term has evolved over time. Initially, it was a broad concept used to assess whether a candidate would be a good fit with Google’s culture. Historically, ‘Googleyness’ was associated with qualities such as intellectual humility, comfort with ambiguity, and a sense of amusement.
In 2017, Google refined its recruitment process by updating the definition of ‘Googleyness’. Previously, the term was loosely defined, often used interchangeably with “cultural fit”, an important factor in hiring decisions. However, Google realized that associating Googleyness with cultural fit could lead to bias, favoring candidates with similar backgrounds or viewpoints. This can result in a homogenous workplace that lacks diversity across race, gender, and socio-economic background.
The purpose of this change is to focus on features that truly help individuals thrive in Google’s dynamic, fast-paced environment. According to Laszlo Bock, former head of People Operations, ‘Googleyness’ includes qualities such as intellectual humility, a sense of fun, conscientiousness, comfort with ambiguity, and the ability to learn and grow. It emphasizes qualities like being proactive, transparent, humble and adaptable, while also encouraging employees to take a courageous path in their personal and professional lives.
Now, during an all-hands meeting this week, CEO Sundar Pichai clarified the definition, saying it has become too broad and needs reform. According to Mr Pichai, ‘Googleyness’ now focuses on being “mission first”, prioritizing company goals and being “bold and responsible” in decision making. It also reportedly includes qualities such as being “scrappy” (resourceful) and having fun while working, an emphasis on teamwork, and a sense of unity, summarized under the motto “Team Google”.
The changes are in line with Google’s ongoing workforce restructuring efforts, which include the December 19 layoffs and previous job cuts across the company’s global advertising and cloud units. The layoffs come as part of Google’s larger strategy to remain competitive in the rapidly evolving AI field, with the company launching Gemini 2.0, an AI model designed to boost innovation in the tech industry .
