Mumbai: Alphabet Inc.’s Google has always been famous for recruiting talented technologists. Its leaders have more often been considered as world leaders in technology. However, the same notion may be in trouble.
Google conducts an annual internal poll, known as Googlegeist. The survey asked workers whether Pichai’s vision of what the company can achieve inspires them. In response, 78 percent indicated yes. Though the number may show positivity, what is worrisome is it is down 10 percentage points from the previous year.
Another question asked if employees have confidence in Pichai and his management team to effectively lead Google in the future. Positive responses represented 74 percent of the total, an 18 point decline from a year earlier.
There were similar declines for questions about Pichai’s decisions and strategies, his commitment to diversity and inclusion, and the compensation the company pays, according the results, which were viewed by Bloomberg News. Google shares the results with all employees to make sure concerns are heard. This time, 89 percent of workers took the survey.
Wired had reported some of the Googlegeist results earlier on Friday. A Google spokeswoman declined to comment.
Google prides itself on high employee morale, luxurious working conditions and high pay. If these things are beginning to erode, the company could lose talent to other technology companies, undermining its ability to build new services that drive its profitable advertising business.
Thousands of Google staff staged a walkout earlier after a report that the company gave large exit payments to executives accused of sexual harassment.
Google added new questions to the latest survey, highlighting potential management concerns. Employees were asked if Google responds quickly and consistently to verified cases of proven misconduct. 53 percent responded positively. Staff were also asked if they understand how their compensation is determined, and 56 percent indicated yes.
Still, most Googlers aren’t leaving any time soon, with 82 percent of survey respondents saying they plan to be working at Google atleast for one year from now. That was down just 1 percentage point from the previous year. And 86 percent said they would recommend the company as a place to work.
Here are some of the other results from the Googlegeist employee survey:
Pichai’s decisions and strategies help Google do excellent work — 75 percent positive, which is down 13 percentage points from the previous year. Whether Pichai demonstrates a visible commitment to diversity and inclusion, to this the response was 79 percent positive, down 12 points.
Also, whether Google has the right priorities gave response of 66 percent positive, down 13 points. Among the questions asked, whether employees were excited about Google’s future, to this 78 percent responded positively, which is down 11 points. 59 percent reacted positively to question whether their total compensation was fair and equitable, which was down 11 points.
Also, on question whether they were not seriously considering leaving Google, to this 74 responded positively, which was down 2 points.
