Google is endeavouring to reduce headcount. As part of this exercising, some Googlers in the US—who are part of Google’s Core, Marketing, Research, Knowledge and Information (K&I) and Communications teams—have been offered buyouts or voluntary exist options.
Additionally, all remote employees who are part of the affected teams and reside within 50 miles of an office have now been ordered to return to the office and follow a hybrid schedule. Sundar Pichai, CEO, Google has been very vocal about the need for in-person collaboration for an efficient workplace.
This effort to reduce team size has been on for a while now. It had begun with the layoff of 12,000 employees in 2023.
While the exact number of layoffs has not been revealed officially, what is known is that members of the search and ads unit have been offered buyouts.
Earlier this year, in April, Googlers across some divisions were warned that they may lose their jobs if they do not return to office for a minimum of three days of in-person work. The employees were told to work from the nearest Google office on a hybrid schedule. At the time members of Google’s technical services unit were told that their relocation expenses would be covered via a one-time payment, provided they relocated to within 50 miles of an office.
