Amazon CEO Andy Jassy says layoffs will extend into next year
The mass layoffs that began in Amazon’s corporate ranks this week will extend into next year, CEO Andy Jassy said Thursday.
In a note sent to employees, Jassy said the company told workers in its devices and books divisions about layoffs on Wednesday. He said it also offered some other employees a voluntary buyout offer.
“I’ve been in this role now for about a year and a half, and without a doubt, this is the most difficult decision we’ve made during that time (and, we’ve had to make some very tough calls over the past couple of years, particularly during the heart of the pandemic),” Jassy wrote in the memo.
Seattle-based Amazon, which has been cutting costs in various areas of its business in the past few months, is undergoing an annual review process to figure out where it can save more money. Jassy said this year’s review is “more difficult” due to the economic landscape and the company’s rapid hiring in the last several years.
Other tech companies – many of which had gone on hiring binges in the past few years – have also been trimming their workforce amid concerns about an economic slowdown. Among others, Facebook parent Meta said last week it would lay off 11,000 people, about 13% of its workforce. And Elon Musk, the new Twitter CEO, has slashed the company’s workforce in half this month.
On Tuesday, Amazon notified authorities in California that it would lay off about 260 corporate workers at various facilities. Jassy said Amazon hasn’t concluded how many other jobs will be impacted. He noted there will be reductions in certain divisions as the company goes through the annual review process, which will continue into next year. As they weigh job cuts, he said leaders at the company will prioritize what matters most to customers and the long-term health of the company.
Amazon is offering severance packages for employees who leave the company. But – unlike Meta, for example – it hasn’t publicly provided details of the package.
The company employs more than 1.5 million workers globally, primarily made up of hourly workers.
More Stories
Book Review of Nadia by Tamanna Nambiar – A Heartfelt Story of War, Loss, and Hope
In Nadia, Tamanna Nambiar crafts a deeply moving and unforgettable tale of a young girl whose life is torn apart...
‘‘Paperbacks & Pour Overs’’ a café based reading initiative to launch by Third Wave Coffee & HarperCollins.
To celebrate World Book Day, Third Wave Coffee, a well-known Indian café chain, has partnered with HarperCollins India to introduce...
Devangana Dash from Delhi wins the 10th Oxford Bookstore Book Cover Prize
Devangana Dash, a talented book designer, art director, and educator, has won the 10th Oxford Bookstore Book Cover Prize for...
When the Nobel Winners was at Loggerheads: The Mario Vargas Llosa and Gabriel García Márquez Feud
The passing of Mario Vargas Llosa at 89 in Lima, Peru, marks the end of an era for Latin America's...
The Tamil Nadu Textbook and Educational Services Corporation (TNTESC) has bought translation rights of toddler books in Tamil and English.
The Tamil Nadu Textbook and Educational Services Corporation (TNTESC) has signed an agreement with Sweet Cherry, London, to publish over...
Spotlight on GIGI Buter’s children book at Los Angels Times book festival 2025
ReadersMagnet is proud to showcase GiGi Bueter's children's book, “If People Would Be More Like Dogs, What a Great World...