Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google, has initiated a significant round of layoffs, affecting over 100 employees across its digital assistant, hardware, and engineering teams. The move is part of Alphabet Inc.’s ongoing efforts to streamline operations and reduce costs, as reported by Bloomberg.
Affected employees include those actively engaged in the development of the voice-based Google Assistant, as well as teams working on augmented reality hardware. Some employees in the central engineering organization are also impacted by the layoffs.
A Google spokesperson addressed the situation, stating, “In the second half of 2023, our teams have made many changes to become more efficient and effective, and to align their resources with their biggest product priorities.” The spokesperson added that some teams are still undergoing organizational changes, involving the elimination of certain roles globally.
The affected employees have started receiving notices, and Google ensures that they will have the opportunity to apply for open positions within the company.
The Alphabet Workers Union expressed its dissatisfaction with the layoffs in a statement posted on the social networking site X (formerly Twitter). The union criticized the decision, emphasizing the hard work put in by its members to develop innovative products for users.
“Our members and teammates work hard every day to build great products for our users, and the company cannot continue to fire our coworkers while making billions every quarter. We won’t stop fighting until our jobs are safe,” declared the Alphabet Workers Union.
As Google navigates through these organizational changes, the tech giant faces scrutiny and resistance from its own workforce, highlighting the delicate balance between cost-cutting measures and maintaining a positive employee-centric culture.
