[lupire]

This has nothing to do with layoffs. They have plenty of money for salary even after these payouts. The layoffs are intended to reduce costs / increase profit. Google has no desire for employees; they only have employees insofar they are a necessary expense.

[jldugger]

Once upon a time it was said by Google leadership the biggest cost Google pays is opportunity costs, chiefly in the form of projects and products they don't pursue.

[mepiethree]

And back at that time they had way fewer employees than they do now, so that made sense.