Google laid off hundreds of workers on Wednesday night.
The search giant eliminated roles in its central engineering division and on teams working on its Pixel phone, Fitbit devices, Nest smart home product, and Google Assistant, The New York Times reported. The layoffs were first reported by 9to5Google and Semafor.
Google confirmed the cuts to Business Insider in an email.
"We're responsibly investing in our company's biggest priorities and the significant opportunities ahead," a spokesperson said. "To best position us for these opportunities, throughout the second half of 2023, a number of our teams made changes to become more efficient and work better, and to align their resources to their biggest product priorities. Some teams are continuing to make these kinds of organizational changes, which include some role eliminations globally. We're continuing to support any impacted employees as they look for new roles here at Google and beyond."
Two Google workers verified the wording of a termination email originally shared on the anonymous job-posting site Blind, though it has now been removed.
Google is one of several Big Tech companies to initiate a series of layoffs over the past year. Most recently, Amazon announced on Wednesday it was cutting "several hundred" roles.
Read the full email sent to some workers:
Due to changes in business needs, Google has decided to restructure operations at certain of its facilities, including at the facility (if any) at which you work. This restructuring is scheduled to start on January 10, 2024. Based on this decision, we have had to make some difficult decisions about ongoing employment of some Google employees and we regret to inform you that your position is being eliminated. We recognize how much this impacts you and regret the need to move in this direction.
We understand you may have a lot of questions. Please take a moment to review the information on the Offboarding Site, including essential tasks you need to complete, outplacement services being offered, state unemployment information, and information about requesting further HR support. You may also consider applying for one of the available opportunities at Google. If your interests and experience are a good match for an open position, you can apply for the position through the normal internal application process on Grow through your exit date and on Google's career site thereafter; however, we cannot guarantee an internal transfer opportunity prior to your exit.
If you are unable to secure another position by April 9, 2024, your last day at Google will be April 9, 2024 (the "Termination Date"), which provides you with a minimum of 90 days' pay and related benefits from the date of this notification.* (Please see note below on your exit date if you are currently on an approved, eligible leave of absence). You will continue to receive your standard hourly rate or salary through the Termination Date and you will continue to be eligible for company benefits, including accrual of vacation, through that time. Pursuant to the Company Severance Pay Plan ("SPP"), in exchange for signing, and returning the Separation Agreement and Release ("SAR") by the date specified in the SAR, and the SAR becoming effective, you will be eligible for a severance package (as described in the SAR) starting at 14 weeks salary plus one additional week for every year of service, subject to all applicable withholdings and deductions. You will receive the SAR on or shortly after the Termination Date. A copy of the SPP is posted on the Offboarding Site. Please note that, notwithstanding anything else in this notice, if you are terminated for misconduct or the subject of a pending investigation for sexual misconduct or retaliation prior to the Termination Date, Google retains the discretion to not offer, or to rescind its offer of, such severance package.
Between today and the Termination Date (the "Notification Period"), you may be required to perform tasks in connection with transitioning your role-related duties and to consult with your peers and manager, to the extent needed, in performance of those tasks. This is detailed in the linked Offboarding Site.
[For employees who are currently on an approved, or have a scheduled, eligible leave of absence during the Notification Period please see below*].
[For New York State employees only] You are also hereby notified that, as a result of your employment loss, you may be eligible to receive job retraining, re-employment services, or other assistance with obtaining new employment from the New York State Department of Labor or its workforce partners upon your termination. You may also be eligible for unemployment insurance benefits after your last day of employment. Whenever possible, the New York State Department of Labor will contact your employer to arrange to provide additional information regarding these benefits and services to you through workshops, interviews, and other activities that will be scheduled prior to the time your employment ends. If your job has already ended, you can also access reemployment information and apply for unemployment insurance benefits on the Department's website or you may use the contact information provided on the website or visit one of the Department's local offices for further information and assistance.
[For Washington State employees on Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave only] Your coverage under Google's health care plan will end on the last day of the month of your Termination Date.
This action is expected to be permanent and Google does not recognize bumping rights for its employees, which means that terminated employees are not permitted to displace remaining employees based on seniority or any other factor. To the extent any notice obligation to you may exist under the federal and/or state Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Acts, this letter constitutes such notice.
