Google sacks Eric Schmidt memo leaker

Google has fired the employee who leaked the Eric Schmidt memo announcing a 10 per cent pay raise for the company's entire staff, according to a report citing multiple anonymous sources.

So, that pay raise isn't going to everyone after all.

CNNMoney reports that within hours of the memo being leaked to Business Insider and Fortune, Google sent out another internal memo saying the leaker had been terminated.

Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In the leaked memo, Eric Schmidt also told Googlers that they'll receive a $1,000 bonus this year for Christmas expenses and that the company will pay any tax due on the bonus. He also said that from January 1, in addition to the 10 per cent hike, Google is moving a portion of each employees annual bonus into their base salary.

"We’ve heard from your feedback on Googlegeist and other surveys that salary is more important to you than any other component of pay (i.e., bonus and equity)," the memo reads.

"To address that, we’re moving a portion of your bonus into your base salary, so now it’s income you can count on, every time you get your paycheck... Thank you for all that you do, and for making Google a place where magic happens."

But this is our favorite bit: "But first let me say, on behalf of everyone on the management team, that we believe we have the best employees in the world. Period. The brightest, most capable group of this size ever assembled. It's why I'm excited to come to work every day - and I'm sure you feel the same way. We want to make sure that you feel rewarded for your hard work, and we want to continue to attract the best people to Google."

Of late, some rather big names have left Google for other outfits, including Google Maps co-daddy Lars Rasmussen. Lars told one paper that the company was getting so large, it's difficult to actually get things done. Some might also complain that Google is the sort of company that fires somebody for leaking a memo about pay raises. ®