Amazon has announced its intention to reduce its global workforce by 16,000 employees. While specific details about the locations of the job cuts have not been disclosed, reports indicate that the impact on the UK may be limited. It is speculated that positions in Amazon Web Services, retail, Prime Video, and human resources are likely to be affected.
This move follows a previous round of layoffs last October when the company, founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos, announced 14,000 job redundancies. In a message to employees, Beth Galetti, Amazon’s senior vice president of people experience and technology, acknowledged the challenging news and explained the reasons behind the decision.
Galetti stated that approximately 16,000 roles across Amazon would be impacted by the current reductions. The company is committed to supporting affected employees, particularly in the US, where workers will have 90 days to seek internal job opportunities or receive severance pay.
While focusing on the current changes, Galetti emphasized that Amazon will continue to hire and invest in strategic areas essential for its future growth. She reassured employees that the company’s goal is not to have frequent large-scale layoffs but to continuously evaluate and adapt to meet customer demands in a rapidly evolving world.
In an apparent miscommunication incident, Amazon inadvertently notified employees in its Web Services division about the impending layoffs ahead of schedule through an email and a team meeting invitation. The email, erroneously stating that employees in the US, Canada, and Costa Rica had already been informed of their job losses, was swiftly followed by the cancellation of the scheduled meeting.
Amazon employees are being updated on the situation, with the company striving to navigate these changes while maintaining its focus on innovation and customer service.