Re: Google Layoffs - 10,000 Workers Affected

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Brett Glass <brett () lariat net>
Date: November 25, 2008 12:36:47 AM EST
To: dave () farber net, "ip" <ip () v2 listbox com>
Subject: Re: [IP] Google Layoffs - 10,000 Workers Affected


> Google reports to the SEC that it has 20,123 employees but in  
> reality it has 30,000. Why the discrepancy? Google classifies 10,000  
> of the employees as temporary operational expenses or "workers".

It appears that, at least in this respect, Google has taken a leaf  
from the playbook of rival Microsoft -- which likewise has a large  
number of "permatemps." (The term is so frequently used that it is  
defined in Wikipedia; see

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permatemp

for the page.)

Incidentally, Microsoft in the late 90's settled a class action  
lawsuit (Vizcaino v. Microsoft) in which the "permatemps" sued for  
benefits, claiming that were really employees and were entitled to  
stock options and other benefits. Due to the run-up in Microsoft stock  
prior to the dot-com bust, many of them received handsome payouts.  
Microsoft also had to pay quite a lot in FICA, UI, and WC payments.  
Type "Vizcaino Microsoft" into any search engine for details.

--Brett Glass




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