US technology giant Amazon has confirmed it will cut 16,000 jobs - hours after it told staff about a new round of global redundancies in an email apparently sent in error. The email, which has been seen by the BBC, was sent late on Tuesday and referred to a swathe of employees in the US, Canada, and Costa Rica being laid off as part of efforts to 'strengthen the company.' The message was reportedly shared by mistake, as it was quickly cancelled. Early on Wednesday, Amazon announced job reductions as part of a plan to 'remove bureaucracy' at the firm.
Beth Galetti, senior vice president of people experience and technology at Amazon, stated that the company is not planning to make 'broad reductions every few months,' referencing previous announcements regarding job cuts. On Tuesday, a draft email by Colleen Aubrey from AWS was mistakenly included in a calendar invitation, indicating the upcoming layoffs. Named 'Project Dawn,' the email detailed layoffs and expressed that these changes are aimed at strengthening the organization by reducing bureaucracy.
This latest reduction of 16,000 jobs is a continuation of layoffs that were anticipated by Amazon employees for weeks, with insights indicating a wider expectation of approximately 30,000 total job cuts. The tech sector, in general, has endured significant workforce reductions, with companies like Meta and Google also drastically downsizing.
Amid these layoffs, employees laid off will have opportunities to reapply for open roles, albeit limited in number. As the company shifts strategies, emphasizing a stricter work culture and in-office attendance, Amazon continues to navigate a rapidly changing corporate landscape.
Beth Galetti, senior vice president of people experience and technology at Amazon, stated that the company is not planning to make 'broad reductions every few months,' referencing previous announcements regarding job cuts. On Tuesday, a draft email by Colleen Aubrey from AWS was mistakenly included in a calendar invitation, indicating the upcoming layoffs. Named 'Project Dawn,' the email detailed layoffs and expressed that these changes are aimed at strengthening the organization by reducing bureaucracy.
This latest reduction of 16,000 jobs is a continuation of layoffs that were anticipated by Amazon employees for weeks, with insights indicating a wider expectation of approximately 30,000 total job cuts. The tech sector, in general, has endured significant workforce reductions, with companies like Meta and Google also drastically downsizing.
Amid these layoffs, employees laid off will have opportunities to reapply for open roles, albeit limited in number. As the company shifts strategies, emphasizing a stricter work culture and in-office attendance, Amazon continues to navigate a rapidly changing corporate landscape.
