Google holiday parties to be downgraded
There has been much news lately which strongly suggests that the U.S. economy is in a downturn. Now a bit of information has surfaced which clearly shows that high-tech corporate America is feeling the effects of a sluggish economy. That tidbit? Even search giant Google is planning to curtail spending on its holiday celebrations, long known as some of the biggest and best in an industry recognized for its lavish parties at the end of the year.
According to an industry insider, this year’s celebrations will be scaled back dramatically. The celebratory reduction, of course, may still leave a great deal of room for serious partying. Googles holiday parties have drawn as many as 10,000 participants in previous years.
The parties have been so good that some Google employees have placed ads on the popular classified ad Website Craigslist to find the best dates for the gala affairs.
Of course, rumors of this year’s reduction in party expenditures comes on the heels of very sobering economic news in the computer industry.
According to a survey taken by consulting firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas, major Silicon Valley employers have cut as may as 140,000 jobs over the last few months. That would be sobering news within any industry, but has been especially hard to take in an industry that has been almost recession-proof in the past.
It is said that all celebrations sponsored by the industry-leading search firm will be cut back, including often ostentatious corporate wide evens and the smaller team parties held by Google department.
Do not expect to see open sushi buffets, extravagant ice sculptures, burlesque dancers, or any of the other celebratory excesses of the past few years. Times are hard, comparatively, and we can expect to see similar celebrations at other Silicon Valley companies cut back in similar ways.
Silicon Valley may not be faring as badly as Detroit in the harsher economic times, but clearly this is not going to be a boon year in the high-tech industry, and celebrations will be commensurate with performance in 2008.
Related Posts:
November 22nd, 2008
Well if Google is cutting back, we really are screwed.