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Google Scales Back Christmas

Google Scales Back Christmas

It used to be ice sculptures of the company logo and virtual reality booths at a big bash, but times are tough all over this year. Even Silicon Valley is feeling the pinch nowadays. Google might have escaped the bite of the credit crunch so far, but plenty of others haven’t.

So the Internet search giant is reducing its Christmas celebrations this year, Reuters has learned from a source. Instead of lavish parties, the 20,000 employees in its various departments will have lower-key festivities to be more economical. Teams will volunteer in the afternoon and spend the evening at dinner parties and museum outings in San Francisco.

And in 2008, instead of the glut of single employees advertising for dates on Craigslist, only one person has been searching for a companion so far.

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