Google lays off 12,000 employees: CEO Sundar Pichai takes ‘full responsibility for layoffs
As the world prepares for a significant economic slump this year, Google has announced 12,000 job cuts, making it the most recent tech behemoth to do so. In an email available to read on the company’s official blog, CEO Sundar Pichai informed the team about the firing.
Pichai, who has been at Google since 2004 and it’s promoted to chief executive in 2015, said the layoffs reflect a “rigorous review” by the company across all product and feature areas. The jobs removed “span across alphabets, product areas, functions, levels and sectors.”
Pichai stated in the letter that “we have seen remarkable growth over the last two years.”
“I have some upsetting news to impart. We have decided to eliminate 12,000 positions from our staff. To those employees in the US who affect, we have already sent a separate email. Due to customs and legislation, this procedure could differ in other nations. Saying farewell to some of the tremendously talented individuals we work so hard to hire and like working with will be necessary. I apologise profusely. These developments will impact the lives of Google employees. Quite a bit about myself, and I fully accept responsibility for the choices that led us to this point.” said Pichai.
According to Pichai, Google will offer 2022 bonuses, unused vacation time, payment for the entire notice period, six months of medical care, assistance with finding a job, and immigration support to employees to make the transition out of the firm easier.
The company will hold a public meeting on Monday to discuss plans to move forward.
Here is the full message of Pichai’s letter to the employees:
I need to break some bad news for you. We have decided to cut 12,000 employees from our staff. To those employees in the US who affect, we have already sent a separate email. The laws and customs of other nations will make this process longer elsewhere.
It will include bidding farewell to some extraordinarily exceptional individuals we worked hard to find and enjoyed working with. I apologise for this. I bear full responsibility for the choices that led us to this point because I am concerned about how these changes will affect the lives of Google employees.
Our progress over the last two years has been phenomenal. To match and fuel that growth, we contracted for a different economic reality than we have today.
Because of the power of our goal, the worth of our goods and services, and our early AI investments, I think we have a tremendous opportunity ahead of us. We must make difficult choices if we want to do this fully. To ensure that our employees and their jobs align with our business’s key priorities, we have rigorously reviewed our product areas and functions. The roles we are eliminating align with that analysis’s findings. They dispersed among alphabets, product categories, roles, levels, and geographical places.
To outgoing Google employees: Thank you for working hard to help people and businesses worldwide. Their contribution has been invaluable, and we are grateful to them.
While this transition will not be easy, we will support employees as they seek their next opportunity.
Products from Google are now better than ever due to those early investments. And for consumers, developers, and companies, we’re getting ready to provide some completely new experiences. With AI in our products, we have a tonne of opportunity, and we’re prepared to embrace it bravely and ethically.
This entire effort is an extension of our culture’s “healthy scorn for the unattainable” that has existed since its inception. Today, when I look around Google, I still see the same passion and drive guiding our work. That is why, even on the most challenging days, I have faith in our capacity to complete our mission. One of them is today.
I’m sure you have many questions about how we’re moving forward. We will host a town hall on Monday. See your calendar for more details. Please take good care of yourself as you digest this difficult news. As part of that, if you’re starting your workday, feel free to work from home today.
More news: Click here