I have appreciated our recent dialogue concerning Alphabet's cost base. I am encouraged to see that you are now taking some action to right size Alphabet's cost base and understand that it is never an easy decision to let people go.
我很欣赏我们最近围绕 Alphabet 成本结构的对话。看到你们现在开始采取行动以合理化 Alphabet 的成本结构，并且我理解裁员从来都不是一个容易的决定，这让我备受鼓舞。
I argued in my previous letter that Alphabet's headcount has grown beyond what is required operationally. Over the last 5 years, Alphabet more than doubled its headcount, adding over 100,000 employees, of which over 30,000 were added in the first 9 months of 2022 alone. The decision to cut 12,000 jobs is a step in the right direction, but it does not even reverse the very strong headcount growth of 2022. Ultimately management will need to go further.
我在之前的信中指出，Alphabet 的员工人数已经超出了运营所需。在过去五年里，Alphabet 的员工人数增加了一倍多，新增员工超过 10 万人，仅在 2022 年前九个月就增加了 3 万多人。裁减 12,000 个职位的决定是朝着正确方向迈出的一步，但仍不足以抵消 2022 年的迅猛增员。归根结底，管理层需要采取更大力度的措施。
I believe that management should aim to reduce headcount to around 150,000, which is in line with Alphabet's headcount at the end of 2021. This would require a total headcount reduction in the order of 20%.
我认为，管理层应将员工人数削减至约 150,000 人，这与 Alphabet 在 2021 年末的员工规模相当。要实现这一目标，总体员额需要缩减约 20%。
Importantly, management should also take the opportunity to address excessive employee compensation. The median salary at Alphabet in 2021 amounted to nearly \$300,000, and the average salary is much higher. Competition for talent in the technology industry has fallen significantly allowing Alphabet to materially reduce compensation per employee. In particular, Alphabet should limit stockbased compensation given the depressed share price.
同样重要的是，管理层应借此机会解决员工薪酬过高的问题。2021 年 Alphabet 的薪酬中位数接近 30 万美元，平均薪酬更高。科技行业对人才的竞争已经显著降温，这使得 Alphabet 有条件大幅降低人均薪酬。尤其是在股价低迷的情况下，公司应限制基于股票的薪酬。
I hope to have further dialogue with you on these matters in due course.
我希望在适当的时候就这些事项与您进一步交流。