No. The article is confusing the christmas bonus (usually $1k from what I've heard) with the annual bonus handed out in February (which is normally 15% of salary).
I agree that replacing an expected $1k with a mobile phone on short notice is likely to come as a bit of a shock to many Googlers, but this is nowhere near as much of a shock as replacing the 15% annual bonus would be.
Also they're getting the dev unlocked version of the phone which is $400, not $180... a lot of subpar reporting on this, giz isn't alone in having the facts wrong.
They're covering tax on it, and doing an extra payroll run to make sure this gets to Googlers hands in time for Xmas. Seems pretty okay to me.
People have to realize, Google's stock has not only flatlined in the past year, but has taken a massive pounding. Their spend-now-ask-later methodology had to go at some point. I know many companies who wouldn't give their employees a cell phone, or any sort of bonus.
I agree that replacing an expected $1k with a mobile phone on short notice is likely to come as a bit of a shock to many Googlers, but this is nowhere near as much of a shock as replacing the 15% annual bonus would be.