Google CEO blames employee leaks for bureaucratic culture

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Google’s CEO responded to a concern from staff that the company has become less honest with its employees. Pichai said trust has to go both ways, referring to employees who leak information to the press. The pandemic and the size of Google have made management responses feel “canned,” he added. Loading Something is loading.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai was faced with a question from an employee earlier this month asking if Google plans to be more honest and direct with its staff.

CNBC obtained the audio of a year-end general meeting hosted by Google CEO Sundar Pichai earlier this month. During the meeting, Pichai read an employee question that had been submitted through Dory’s internal company system.

The question was, “It seems the answers to Dory are more and more like lawyers with ready-made phrases or platitudes, who seem to ignore the questions being asked.” [sic]. Do we plan to bring the frankness, honesty, humility and frankness back to Dory’s responses or continue down a bureaucratic path? “

Google employees can vote on questions submitted through Dory, and according to CNBC, the question received 673 votes.

Pichai appeared to blame leaks to the press as one of the reasons speakers’ responses at meetings might seem artificial.

“Sometimes I think people don’t forgive small mistakes. I think people realize that answers can be quoted anywhere, including outside of the company. I think it makes people very careful, ”he said.

“Confidence and openness have to go both ways,” Pichai added.

Pichai also said the massive size of the company and the pandemic forcing meetings to be held virtually were contributing factors.

“I noticed more and more people were reading off screens during the pandemic and so I think some of it is helping responses feel canned,” Pichai said. “I think people are always nervous to respond in this context,” he added.

According to CNBC, Pichai said the concern raised was “welcome back.”

Google faced widespread employee dissatisfaction before the pandemic. In 2018, more than 20,000 Google employees staged a walkout to protest the company’s handling of sexual harassment.

Google employees formed their very first union in January of this year. The union called on the company to change the way it handles sexual misconduct complaints in July.

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