n n n ‘.concat(e.i18n.t(“search.voice.recognition_retry”),’n
Google laid off “several hundred” workers in multiple divisions on Wednesday in a new round of belt tightening, according to reports from The New York Times, 9to5Mac, Semafor and other news outlets. Divisions affected include hardware (Pixel, Nest and Fitbit), core engineering and Google Assistant. The cuts — which appear to be at least 600 but may be higher — are already effective and workers impacted have reportedly been informed.
“We’re making a responsible investment in our company’s most sensible priorities and the significant opportunities that lie ahead,” a Google spokesperson told the New York Times in a statement. “Some groups continue to make those kinds of organizational changes, which lead to some role eliminations globally. “.
As part of the cuts, Google is reportedly in the process of revamping its Pixel, Nest and Fitbit divisions, and Fitbit co-founders James Park, Eric Friedman and other executives will leave the company. The company would have a hardware team. engineering in the 3 divisions.
“We have had to make difficult decisions regarding the continued employment of some Google workers and we must tell you that your position is being eliminated,” the company told some employees of the important engineering division, according to a memo read by The New York. Times. .
The company declined to respond to The Verge’s request for comment when asked if it had reduced its headcount in other divisions, so the total number of layoffs is unclear. Last year, Google made some of the biggest job cuts in its history, laying off about 12,000 more people. in January. At the end of last year, the company hired 182,381 people and had 118,899 at the beginning of 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic.
That was part of a wider reduction in jobs across the industry in 2023, with over 220,000 layoffs during the year. Those came from larger companies like Meta, Alphabet, Microsoft, Spotify and Amazon, along with numerous small, medium-sized and startup firms. Engadget has reached out to Google for comment about the layoffs and will update the story if required.
On Friday, the Alphabet-CWA Workers Union issued a reaction to Wednesday’s layoffs:
“On Wednesday night, more than 1,000 Google employees were shocked to be informed via email that they were being laid off. These layoffs come less than a year after Alphabet laid off 12,000 of our colleagues in 2023, and the conditions for firing are only clearer. “Even worse. These layoffs are unnecessary and counterproductive. Alphabet says it’s laying off other people for the sake of efficiency, but we know the fact because we see the real impacts. Layoffs introduce chaos and instability into the office and force staff to settle for corporate greed. Last year, the company made tens of billions in profits, held more than $100 billion in currency reserves and increased its stock by 40 percent. Meanwhile, the lives of thousands of our colleagues were turned upside down. and those who remain in the picture do so with a constant anxiety to be next.
The only way to prevent those layoffs from slowing down each January is for us, the Google staff, to act in combination and build the strength to prevent them. »
Update, January 12 2024, 3:35PM ET: This story has been updated to add a statement from the Alphabet Workers Union in response to the layoffs.