The Blubber

Nvidia's, $NVDA, employees are suddenly so rich and happy that the company's got a 'semi retirement' problem.


Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang recently addressed concerns during an internal meeting regarding some long-term employees appearing to be in a "semi-retirement" mode. Responding to a pre-submitted question from an employee, Huang likened working at Nvidia to a "voluntary sport," urging each employee to act as the "CEO" of their own time. While acknowledging that some individuals had been with the company for an extended period, he emphasized that these were decisions to be made by adults. Huang's broader message emphasized responsible self-determination in determining one's work intensity, according to sources.

The tension among Nvidia employees stems from the company's significant stock growth, making many employees wealthy. Some perceive a disparity in effort, particularly among veteran employees. While Nvidia's pro-employee culture has historically avoided layoffs and opted for team reassignment, this can contribute to a phenomenon known as "rest and vest," where employees coast through their jobs, waiting for stock awards to vest.

Nvidia, known for its hands-off management style and success in the advanced chip market, faces potential risks from internal discord amid increasing regulatory pressure and competition from AMD, Intel, Amazon, and Microsoft. Huang's emphasis on personal responsibility underscores the company's ethos, but the challenge of maintaining a motivated workforce amid newfound wealth remains. Nvidia declined to comment on the matter.