'Deeply committed' | Google offers 25,000 staff 'voluntary buyouts' as it restructures

Google offers 25,000 staff 'voluntary buyouts' as it restructures

Google has extended voluntary buyout offers to more than 25,000 employees in its platforms and devices division, a move aimed at ensuring the workforce remains "deeply committed" to the company's strategic goals.

The tech giant confirmed the buyout program on Monday, marking a significant step in its ongoing efforts to streamline operations.

The voluntary exit program was offered last week to US-based employees working on key products such as Android, Chrome, Google Photos, and hardware lines including Pixel, Fitbit, and Nest. According to a company statement, the program allows eligible employees to leave voluntarily with a severance package.

“There’s tremendous momentum on this team and with so much important work ahead, we want everyone to be deeply committed to our mission and focused on building great products, with speed and efficiency,” the statement read.

Uncertainty surrounds eligibility

Employees interested in the buyout have until February 20 to apply, with decisions expected by March 25, according to CNBC. It remains unclear how many of the more than 25,000 staff members are eligible for the program or the specifics of the severance packages being offered. Google has not responded to requests for further comment.

The announcement comes as Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc., saw its shares drop approximately 1% in early trading on Monday. Like many major US tech firms, Google is shifting resources towards the development of advanced artificial intelligence while scaling back other business areas. Alphabet CFO Anat Ashkenazi noted last October that the company would seek additional cost-cutting opportunities.

Employee concerns

Prior to the buyout announcement, members of the Alphabet Workers Union circulated a petition citing concerns about job stability at Google. The petition, which has more than 1,400 signatures, calls for policy changes, including guaranteed severance, voluntary buyout offers prior to layoffs, and merit-based employee evaluations instead of a tier-based system.

“Ongoing rounds of layoffs make us feel insecure about our jobs,” the petition states. “The company is clearly in a strong financial position, making the loss of so many valuable colleagues without explanation hurt even more.”

This latest buyout offer follows a series of workforce reductions at Google, including the layoff of approximately 12,000 employees in 2023 and additional cuts across multiple teams throughout the year.

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