Google, in a bid to stem defections to rival technology companies such as Facebook, has reportedly given all of its 23,000 employees a pay hike.
The Wall Street Journal, citing ‘people familiar with the matter,’ said the raise, first reported by the Silicon Alley Insider blog, is effective in January.
Google Chief Executive Eric Schmidt informed employees of the Mountain View, California-based company of the pay raise in an email, the newspaper said.
‘We want to make sure that you feel rewarded for your hard work,’ Schmidt was quoted as saying. ‘We want to continue to attract the best people to Google.’
According to the newspaper, roughly 10% of Facebook's employees are Google veterans.
Facebook and Google have also been sparring in recent days over data sharing with Google blocking Facebook from importing Gmail contact information over the social network's refusal to share data about its users.
In September, Google, Apple, Intel and three other US technology giants agreed to settle charges they had illegally entered into agreements not to poach each other's employees.
The US Justice Department said the settlement would prevent Adobe, Apple, Google, Intel, Intuit and Pixar from forging so-called ‘no solicitation’ agreements for employees.
