Intel is set to resume offering free coffee and tea to employees after substantial layoffs as part of broader cost-cutting measures. according to oregonianThe chip giant shared in an internal message that beverages will be returning to the office to boost employee morale.
“While Intel still faces cost challenges, we understand that small conveniences play an important role in our daily routines,” the message said. oregonianIt was said. “We know this is a small step, but we hope it will be meaningful in supporting our workplace culture.”
However, free fruit, a benefit that employees had hoped for, will not return, the report said.
Intel, once a leader in the technology industry, has faced several failures that have affected its position. Although it played a major role in the PC boom of the 1990s, its focus on personal computers left it behind in the mobile chip market, allowing Apple to take the lead with the iPhone.
In 2013, former Intel CEO Paul Otellini admitted that he regretted his decision to make a deal with Apple to make chips for the iPhone, as Intel assumed the volume would not justify the cost.
Another missed opportunity came in 2017 and 2018, when Intel refused to invest in OpenAI, now a leader in artificial intelligence. OpenAI had sought Intel’s support to reduce dependence on Nvidia’s chips and build its own infrastructure. Former CEO Bob Swan reportedly doubted the market feasibility of generic AI models, contributing to Intel’s decision to abandon the investment.
Intel has also faced manufacturing delays, such as setbacks with its 7-nanometer chips in 2020, which allowed competitors like Samsung and TSMC to make inroads.
As its valuation dropped, Intel increased cost-cutting measures. In August, it announced plans to reduce its workforce by 15,000 through voluntary separations and layoffs. That month, the company shared a presentation detailing cuts to employee benefits, including cuts in reimbursement for Internet, phone, and commuting costs.
In September, Intel informed employees in at least one Oregon office that free drinks and fruit would be discontinued.
“It’s a small thing, okay? How much does a piece of fruit cost per day?” A former Intel employee told business insider,
