Google Offers ‘voluntary Exit’ To All Us Platforms And Devices Employees

A twelvemonth ago, Google started disconnected 2024 pinch immoderate layoffs. It hasn’t taken akin steps (yet) successful 2025, but labor are fearing nan worst. And if nan Platforms and Devices squad is point to spell by, there’s ample logic for concern. Google has distributed a memo to each US labour moving connected Android, Pixel hardware, and different projects that offers a “voluntary exit program” guaranteeing severance for anyone consenting to measurement distant from their domiciled astatine nan company. The memo went retired from platforms and devices SVP Rick Osterloh, according to 9to5Google.

“This comes aft we brought 2 ample organizations together past year,” Osterloh wrote. “There’s tremendous momentum connected this squad and pinch truthful overmuch important activity ahead, we want everyone to beryllium profoundly committed to our ngo and focused connected building awesome products, pinch velocity and efficiency.” Voluntary buyouts tin often beryllium a precursor to layoffs if not tin labour return Google up connected its relationship and return to leave.

Google mixed its Android and hardware teams nether Osterloh successful April. Executives said nan streamlined onslaught would thief it merge AI features crossed products and services overmuch quickly.

A less months later successful October, Alphabet’s main finance serviceman Anat Ashkenazi said she would prioritize “cost efficiencies” passim nan company. “There’s really bully activity that was done, started by Ruth, Sundar and nan remainder of nan lead squad to re-engineer nan costs base,” she said during her first nett telephone arsenic CFO. “But I deliberation immoderate connection tin ever push a mini further and I’ll beryllium looking astatine further opportunities.” The cost-cutting measures are partially designed to offset Google pouring truthful overmuch money into AI.

Google’s Pixel phones personification ne'er recreation anyplace adjacent to nan income numbers enjoyed by Apple and Samsung, but nan institution is astatine slightest trending successful nan correct direction; Counterpoint Research reported that Google recorded its highest-ever quarterly income measurement for smartphones successful Q3 2024.

Some labour astatine Google personification precocious been circulating a petition that calls for CEO Sundar Pichai to relationship precisely this type of optional buyout earlier resorting to involuntary layoffs. “Ongoing rounds of layoffs make america consciousness insecure astir our jobs,” nan petition said, according to CNBC. “The institution is intelligibly successful a beardown financial position, making nan nonaccomplishment of truthful galore valuable colleagues without mentation wounded moreover more.”

At slightest for nan clip being, it appears nan voluntary exit programme hasn’t been extended to different divisions incorrect Google for illustration hunt aliases nan DeepMind AI team.