Google to promote fewer employees to senior roles in 2023

Google has informed its employees that fewer of them will be promoted to more senior levels this year than in the past. In an email viewed by CNBC, the tech giant said that the process will be manager-led and largely similar to last year, but with the slower pace of hiring, there will be fewer promotions into L6 and above than when Google was growing quickly. The L6 designation refers to the first layer of the workforce, which is considered senior and normally consists of people with approximately ten years of experience.

According to the email, the company will be promoting fewer people to senior roles “to ensure that the number of Googlers in more senior and leadership roles grows in proportion to the growth of the company.” If managers believe that an employee is ready for promotion, they will nominate them.

Google also stated in the email that employees in technical roles who wish to “self-nominate” themselves will have a “short window of time” between March 6 and March 8 to do so. The changes come as the company implements a new performance review system called Google Reviews and Development (GRAD), which will lead to more employees receiving low-performance ratings and fewer receiving high marks.

This decision comes after Google CEO Sundar Pichai confirmed in a letter to employees on January 20 that about 12,000 people globally would be laid off, accounting for over 6% of the total workforce. The changes in the promotion process may be an attempt by the company to align its workforce with its slower pace of growth.

While Google’s promotion process may be stricter this year, the company is still considered one of the most desirable employers in the tech industry. Employees at Google enjoy a variety of benefits, such as flexible work schedules, generous time off, and opportunities for career growth and development. Google’s culture is known for being innovative, collaborative, and inclusive, and the company is committed to creating a diverse and equitable workforce.

In summary, Google is reducing the number of promotions into senior roles this year as compared to the past, in order to align the growth of its workforce with the growth of the company. The promotion process will be manager-led, and employees in technical roles will have a short window to self-nominate. The changes come as Google implements a new performance review system, which may result in more employees receiving low-performance ratings.