The tech titan Google offers buyouts to employees across different teams including the Knowledge and Information unit (KI), search, ad engineering, marketing, research, and communication teams, announced recently.
Back then in 2023, Google made a major layoff with around 12,000 employees losing their jobs. This is Google’s effort to reduce headcount. An official email has been sent to the employees saying, “Voluntary exit program.”
However, CNBC could not confirm how many employees were affected by this round. In the information reported earlier, the company offered buyouts to employees working in the search and ads unit.
A Word from Nick Fox Regarding Buyouts
The K&I unit includes Google’s core search, commerce operations, and ads with around 20,000 employees which went through a reorganization last October. According to reports, the buyout plan applies to U.S.-based workers.
On June 10, Nick Fox, head of the K&I division relayed a memo for employees wherein he said, that employees who were not able to meet the company’s expectations may take the buyout and those who’re already excited about the work will continue the company. Here’s the clear statement, I want to be very clear: If you’re excited about your work, energized by the opportunity ahead, and performing well, I really (really!) hope you don’t take this! We have ambitious plans and tonnes to get done,” he added.
The buyout program comes soon after CEO Sundar Pichai, in an interview with Bloomberg, expressed excitement about the growth of the headcount in technical roles, but he questioned how these exit offers fit in with long-term hiring objectives.
Further, Chief Anat Ashkenazi in October stated that the top priority would be to encourage more cost reductions when Google increases its investments in AI infrastructure in 2025.
This is a strategic move.
Moving to Hybrid-Work Model
Another work-mode type announcement made by Google is that it is making employees return to the office. Like others, they’re on the way expecting a hybrid work model to bring folks more people together in person and keep their jobs secure. This is certainly a reminder for the remote employees to put their office desks on!
Although Google has presented the VEP as a voluntary and beneficial initiative, industry observers warn that layoffs could ensue if not enough workers accept the buyouts. This most recent action indicates that Google's personnel reorganization initiatives are still ongoing, despite previous predictions that the business was finished with layoffs.
Indeed, these are common though not every time the effect of buyout. The point is that Google will lay off more workforce if the buyout program is not accepted by enough staff and the company needs to reach a certain headcount.
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