In a bid to reduce its headcount, search giant Google on Tuesday, June 10, offered buyouts to employees across several of its divisions. A buyout to employees means the company is offering a voluntary severance package encouraging them to leave their positions. This is often done to reduce the workforce, change the composition of the workforce or streamline operations.
According to a report in CNBC, Google has offered buyouts to employees from its knowledge and information (K&I), central engineering units, marketing, research, and communication teams. This is in line with the tech giant’s efforts to lay off since its massive job cuts in 2023. The latest round of buyouts has not yet confirmed the number of employees affected. There are also reports suggesting that similar buyouts were offered to staff in the search and ads units.
The buyout, essentially a voluntary exit programme, applies to Google employees in the US. The company has also confirmed that some of its teams are also mandating office returns for workers who live within 50 miles of an office. The search giant aims to bring a hybrid work schedule in order to bring staff together in person.
Reportedly, K&I has around 20,000 employees, and in October 2024, the unit underwent a reorganisation in October that led to the elevation of Google executive Nick Fox. On June 10, Fox had relayed a memo saying that employees who were not meeting expectations may want to take the buyout and that those who are excited by their work and doing well will continue with the company. “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 tonnes to get done,” Fox wrote, according to the memo.
The same memo said that the company was offering a supportive exit path for those who did not feel aligned with its broader strategy. “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,” read the memo reviewed by CNBC.
Incidentally, the latest round of buyouts comes after Google finance chief Anat Ashkenazi in October said that the company’s top priority would be to push for more cost-cutting as the tech giant plans to expand its spending on AI in 2025. Besides, Google is also updating its internal learning platform to focus on upskilling its staff, especially training them to use modern AI tools.
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