I find this plausible:

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> The formula looks at the variables below, and then spits out a "number" for every Googler. Each PA VP gets a % to cut, and as such there is a threshold. Anyone below that threshold gets RIF'd.

Variables are:

1) Location of labor. US Premium Plus was largely impacted versus cheaper areas. 2) Tenure and performance in level. 3) "Runway" of comp. (e.g. base salary vs MRP. eg. .8 of MRP Googlers have a long runway, vs 1.x of MRP Googlers are basically top of band, and 'tenured' with no runway except promo 4) Promo velocity

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Taken from https://www.teamblind.com/post/THE-DEFINITIVE-GOOGLE-LAYOFF-...

Disclaimer: Googler, but no particular internal-only information backing my impression of the above