Amazon will begin announcing layoffs in its retail business unit after the peak holiday shopping period that takes place directly before and after Thanksgiving, according to information shared by an executive in a meeting.
The executive announced the forthcoming layoffs at a meeting this week, according to an employee who was present. Amazon began its largest round of corporate layoffs in its history this week, starting with its devices and human resources divisions, Insider reported. Amazon reportedly aims to lay off approximately 10,000 employees.
An Amazon spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
Inside Amazon, employees say they are awash in anxiety over who may be laid off in the coming weeks, and they say a lack of communication from leadership isn't helping. In the absence of messaging from the top, employees started a Slack channel early Tuesday to share information about which divisions had been impacted. Nearly 20,000 people joined before it was shut down by human resources.
Amazon forecast weaker-than-expected sales over the coming holiday shopping season, sending its share price plunging earlier this month. In its quarterly earnings, it said it expected sales for the upcoming holiday quarter of $140 billion to $148 billion, below analysts' view of $155.37 billion.
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