After laying off at least 200 employees from its global business unit in May this year as part of ongoing restructuring efforts, Google is reportedly preparing for another round of layoffs. The company has offered a “voluntary exit program” to its employees across divisions, including the core Search team, CNBC has reported. However, the exact number of employees affected by the latest round of buyouts remains unclear.
Employees from Google’s Knowledge and Information (K&I), Central Engineering, marketing, research, and communications teams are among those who have been offered buyouts. Mid to senior-level employees will reportedly receive severances of up to 14 weeks of salary and one additional week for every full year of service.
Google layoffs: US-based employees to be affected
The buyouts have primarily been offered to US-based employees. Some teams are also asking employees to return to the office in order to “bring people more together in person”. Those living within 50 miles of a Google office are expected to comply with the return-to-office (RTO) mandate, as the company shifts toward a hybrid work model.
“Earlier this year, some of our teams introduced a voluntary exit program with severance for US-based Googlers, and several more are now offering the program to support our important work ahead,” CNBC quoted Google spokesperson Courtenay Mencini as saying in an email.
Google’s K&I, which employs around 20,000 people, is also offering buyouts to the team members.
Accept buyout if you don’t meet expectations
Nick Fox, who took over as head of the division last October, sent a memo encouraging employees to voluntarily resign if they no longer feel aligned with the team’s goals or are not meeting performance expectations.
“I want to be very clear: If you’re excited about your work, energised by the opportunity ahead, and performing well, I really (really!) hope you don’t take this! We have ambitious plans and tons to get done,” CNBC quoted a memo by Fox to employees.
He added, “On the other hand, this VEP offers a supportive exit path for those of you who don’t feel aligned with our strategy, don’t feel energised by your work, or are having difficulty meeting the expectations of your role.”
The layoffs and voluntary exit programs align with the company’s cost-cutting measures, which Google’s Chief Financial Officer, Anat Ashkenazi, hinted at in October 2024. These efforts come as Google plans to significantly increase its investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure in 2025. For this, Google has also revamped its internal learning program to train employees to use modern AI tools in their daily work.
Google Layoffs since 2023
Last month, Google laid off around 200 employees across its global business unit, which handles sales and partnerships, to not only “drive greater collaboration” but also to expedite its “ability to quickly and effectively serve customers”.
In April this year, Google also cut jobs in its Platforms and Devices division, which includes teams working on Android, Pixel smartphones, and the Chrome browser. These rounds of layoffs followed job cuts in the Cloud division in February, although those cuts affected only select teams.
According to a filing in February, Google had a workforce of 183,323 employees.
In January 2023, Google laid off 12,000 employees, around 6% of its global workforce. At the time, employees reported having their system access abruptly cut, including some who were on medical or maternity leave, or were long-time high performers. The company faced backlash and has since moved toward voluntary resignation programs before executing further layoffs.