Google is reportedly cracking down on employee travel, telling managers to nix happy hours and other team meetups

• Google plans to limit employee travel only to "business critical" trips, according to The Information.
• The company, usually known for its perks, reportedly said that social functions and team offsites shouldn't be approved.

Google is reportedly tightening its belt when it comes to certain employee perks.

The tech giant sent an email to some senior managers, telling them to limit employee travel only to "business critical" trips, according to a leaked internal email seen by The Information.

Google's top brass reportedly told executives that moving forward, there would be a "high bar" for what is considered critical travel. Social functions, team offsites, and travel to in-person events that offer a virtual option should no longer be approved, The Information reports.

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In a statement provided to Insider, a Google spokesperson confirmed they "recently shared guidance about taking a responsible approach on expense management, including travel and events. Different Product Areas and functions are implementing this in a way that works best for their teams, given their business needs."

Google, which gained a reputation over the years for offering its employees enviable perks like free meals, alcohol, and on-site gyms, has joined many tech companies in cutting back on spending as it prepares for a potential economic slowdown.

Insider has reported that during a recent company all-hands meeting, CEO Sundar Pichai expressed a desire to "simplify the company" and improve employee productivity.

On Tuesday, Pichai told attendees at this year's Code Conference that he wants to make the company 20% more efficient, and that may involve headcount cuts, CNBC reported.