Google CEO Sundar Pichai has issued a memo to the company’s staff, indicating that more layoffs are anticipated this year. Following the recent reduction of over 1,000 workers across various divisions and the elimination of 100 jobs at YouTube, Pichai emphasized the need for “tough choices” to align with the company’s ambitious goals, as reported by The Verge.
While Pichai acknowledged that this year’s cuts won’t match the scale of the 2022 layoffs, during which 12,000 people, or 6% of the workforce, were let go, he stressed the difficulty of witnessing colleagues and teams being impacted. The CEO mentioned that some of these changes have already been announced, and not every team will be affected. However, specific resource allocation decisions will be made throughout the year, potentially impacting certain roles.
The recent round of layoffs at Google affected multiple teams, including hardware, engineering, ads, and services. Fitbit co-founders James Park and Eric Friedman also departed from the organization as part of the restructuring. Additionally, Google announced the elimination of 100 positions at YouTube on Wednesday, aligning with the company’s efforts to become more efficient and prioritize significant product initiatives.
Pichai’s memo reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to strategic adjustments, emphasizing the importance of making decisions to position Google for future opportunities. The impact of these organizational changes is expected to unfold gradually throughout the year, with the CEO acknowledging the challenges faced by employees affected by the transitions.
