Are Google's kitchens on the chopping block?
Google's free food is the greatest tangible evidence of "Googliness" — the company's twee description of its eccentric and goofy culture. The snack rooms and cafeterias are legendary, and four of the cafes made our list of the top things to see on Google's campus. The only question: How long will it all last?
After today's disappointing earnings call, Google CEO Eric Schmidt said the company would put the brakes on hiring. If things don't improve, though, it's possible to envision a day when the food stops flowing as freely. Heck, the company might just ease back to reduce healthcare costs. The "Google 15" that many new employees gain has to have an impact on the bottom line, not just their bottoms. If Google feels like it's time to cut the fat, its food budget is an obvious place.
