In 2023, tech giant Google has announced it will be reducing its workforce by approximately 12,000 roles, marking the company’s largest ever layoff and amounting to about 6 percent of the company’s global workforce. According to CEO Sundar Pichai, the layoffs are a result of the company hiring for a different economic reality than the one it currently faces.
To support the affected employees in the US, Google plans to pay employees during the full notification period, provide a severance package starting at 16 weeks salary plus two weeks for every additional year at Google, accelerate at least 16 weeks of GSU vesting, pay 2022 bonuses and remaining vacation time, and offer 6 months of healthcare, job placement services, and immigration support.
Outside of the US, the company will support employees in line with local practices, though the process may take longer due to local laws and practices. The support initiatives will be revealed in due course.
Other tech companies such as Microsoft, Amazon, and Salesforce have also announced layoffs in recent months, with Microsoft laying off 10,000 employees, Amazon cutting 18,000 jobs, and Salesforce laying off 7,000 workers. However, Apple is the only major tech company that has not announced any layoffs or indicated that it would lay off workers.
