No Giggle At Google As Layoffs Begin

Google's newest employees learned on April fool's day that they would no longer have a job. The employess today were assured that it was not a joke but real. Vanity Fair reports that "DoubleClickers’ heads are rolling left and right. Hopefully, Google’s generous severance package—two months pay with an additional two months if you sign a non-compete agreement—will keep them from jumping out the window. Google’s suggestion? Take two months vacation and don’t even think about it. Or start looking now."

It is rumored that the entire DoubleClick finance department will be let go. DoubleClick’s U.S. workforce of about 1,500 will be reduced by 300. In a statement, the company said: “Since our acquisition of DoubleClick closed on March 11, we have been working to match and align DoubleClick employees in the U.S. with our organizational plan for the business. As with many mergers, this review has resulted in a reduction in headcount at the acquired company.”