In a surprising move, Google’s parent company, Alphabet, has initiated workforce changes by letting go of hundreds of employees from its global recruiting team. This development marks a notable shift in the tech industry, as Alphabet becomes the first major tech giant to carry out layoffs in this quarter.
In-Short:
- Alphabet, the parent company of Google, has conducted layoffs.
- The precise number of affected employees remains undisclosed.
Recent reports had suggested that tech layoffs were on the decline, with analysts at Bernstein Research discontinuing their monthly data series tracking industry layoffs. However, it appears that the tech sector is not entirely immune, as Alphabet takes this unprecedented step. According to Reuters, Alphabet has decided to part ways with hundreds of employees from its global recruiting division. Alphabet clarified that this move is not indicative of a widespread layoff, emphasizing that it aims to retain a significant majority of the team for essential hiring roles. Therefore, while a segment of the team is affected, many will remain employed. Additionally, Alphabet is committed to assisting those impacted in finding alternative positions, whether within the company or externally.
Earlier this year, tech giants such as Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft had announced substantial layoffs, intensifying competition in the tech job market. While the pace of layoffs has slowed, they have not ceased entirely. Data from AltIndex reveals that in 2023, tech companies let go of approximately 226,000 employees. It’s worth noting that Google had made headlines earlier this year with its decision to release 12,000 employees, a move that garnered significant attention in the industry. Google, renowned for offering top-tier perks to its workforce, saw this as a significant change.
Subsequently, Google announced further layoffs in its Waze mapping app department as part of the app’s integration into Google Maps products. Chris Philips, the head of Google’s Geo unit, communicated this decision to employees via email. Google explained that these layoffs were aimed at enhancing the long-term experience for Waze advertisers by transitioning to Google Ads technology. In response to these layoffs, some affected Google employees shared their experiences on LinkedIn. While some expressed fond memories of their time at the tech giant, others raised concerns about the handling of the layoffs. In fact, a group of former Google employees penned an open letter to CEO Sundar Pichai, voicing their grievances regarding the management of the layoffs. Alphabet’s recent workforce changes are a reminder of the evolving landscape in the tech industry, where even established giants are not immune to restructuring and adjustments.