Here's what's happening:
Google's offering voluntary buyouts to people in Search, Ads, and Commerce teams. The package? 14 weeks pay minimum, plus one week for each year you've worked there.
But here's the thing - this isn't just about being nice to employees.
Google laid off 12,000 people in 2023.
That was messy.
People were angry.
Some high performers got cut while on maternity leave.
So now they're trying a softer approach –
"Hey, if you're not feeling it here, we'll pay you to go."
The real story?
Google needs to cut costs while pumping money into AI. They're competing with ChatGPT and facing antitrust pressure that could break up their search monopoly.
And they want people back in the office.
If you live within 50 miles of a Google office, you need to show up.
Some people would rather take the money and run.
Google says this won't lead to layoffs. Voluntary buyouts often come before forced layoffs. It's workforce reduction with better PR.
The tech industry is changing fast. Companies that seemed untouchable two years ago are now watching every dollar.
If you work in tech, pay attention. Your company might be next.
This post was originally shared by on Linkedin.