Google Faces Worker Unrest As Pay Hikes Lag Despite Record Earnings

Mountain View: Google has reportedly given some of its staff reduced pay raises in 2025, despite a strong fiscal year. Employee inquiries during a recent all-hands TGIF meeting revealed mounting discontent, which sparked concerns about the lower pay.

According to reports, despite the company’s strong financial performance, one of the most popular employee queries at the conference was why some employees were receiving less equity grants and total compensation. In response, Google’s Vice President of Global Compensation and Benefits, John Casey, said that over 80 per cent of workers were given salary raises for 2025.

The typical components of Google‘s total compensation packages include base pay, equity (stock awards) and, occasionally, performance bonuses. Because pay is mostly based on individual performance and impact, there may be significant differences in how employees are compensated.

Casey underlined that the company’s pay structure is intended to honor individuals who contribute significantly to the company’s success.

This is not the first time that Google has made pay a controversial issue. Some workers expressed similar worries during the 2024 pay cycle, believing that their contributions had not been reflected in their wage growth. The 2025 cycle, according to a business representative, followed comparable trends with modifications made to guarantee competitiveness across all roles and regions.

In his memo, Osterloh noted, “This comes after we brought two large organizations together last year; the Pixel hardware and Android software teams.” He underlined the need for renewed commitment, stating, “There’s tremendous momentum in this team, and with so much important work ahead, we want everyone focused on building great products with speed and efficiency.”