In the holiday season of 2007, Google handed out cash to employees but decided to hand out Android-based mobile phones to at least 85% of employees during Christmas of 2008. This is due to the recession as well as an opportunity to celebrate the company’s new gadget, according to an internal memo. Since the phone will not function in various countries, such as Turkey, Kenya, Russia, Brazil and India, Google is instead offering $400 to employees living in those countries, that being the cash value of the phone.

Viacom, Adobe Systems, AT&T and Circuit City are just a few of the businesses that have slashed hundreds and more employees in recent weeks. For its part, Google has quietly cut a reported 3,000 contract positions last month.

Bloggers have also weighed in about Google employees who complain about receiving the mobile phone as a bonus. The bloggers say Google employees should be thankful that they are receiving a bonus during such hard economic times that have hit both the tech sector and other industries.