Published in News

No bonus for Google employees this year

by on23 December 2008

Image

Gets a Dream phone instead

In the past Google has been known for giving its employees very good Christmas bonuses, but alas, not this year as the economic downturn has also hit Google. This year's Christmas present from Google is a Dream phone, or a G1, as most of us know it as.

About 85 percent of Google's staff around the world will get a Dream phone sent out to them and it will be network unlocked and it's a special limited edition of the handset with the Google Android on the back. They will also work over WiFi without a SIM card, which might be good news to some. Google employees are not allowed to sell it on, although we have a feeling a few of these will still pop up on eBay or possibly given away as Christmas presents to friends and family.

However, the remaining 15 percent of employees will be getting a US$400 Christmas bonus instead, as for some reason Google is unable to provide them with the Dream phone. Google will also pay for any taxes that their employees have to pay for receiving the Dream phone as a gift from the company.

Although a free Smartphone is better than being told that you've been made redundant, which a lot of people have been told in time for this year's Yuletide, we're still wondering if the Google bosses also got a Dream phone or if they somehow managed to get themselves into a special category of employees that still get their Christmas bonus.

You can find the letter sent out to Google staff here and an FAQ about the Dream handset do's and don'ts here
Last modified on 24 December 2008
Rate this item
(0 votes)