Amazon plans thousands of job cuts, and warns managers to prepare, according to internal messages

In a significant move, Amazon is poised to announce substantial job cuts affecting its corporate workforce, with preparations underway among management teams. Insights from internal communications indicate that the announcement is expected this Tuesday, impacting employees located in the US, UK, and Canada. According to a draft email intended for affected staff, the layoffs are a result of a comprehensive review of organizational priorities and operational focus. Employees will be provided with a severance package that guarantees full pay and benefits for a period of 90 days following their termination. Sources familiar with the situation have revealed that various departments, including human resources and retail, will be directly impacted by the layoffs, with estimates suggesting that thousands of positions may be eliminated. An Amazon spokesperson has yet to provide a comment on the situation. This restructuring effort comes as CEO Andy Jassy implements a series of changes aimed at reshaping the company's culture and operational efficiency. Since taking the helm, Jassy has worked to streamline management, reduce bureaucracy, and enforce strict cost discipline, marking a shift from the company's previous growth-driven approach during its expansion from 2019 to 2021. During that period, Amazon's workforce ballooned to 1.6 million, although recent reports indicate a reduction to 1.55 million employees. The company has already laid off at least 27,000 workers since late 2022, with Jassy previously indicating that advancements in AI technology would further decrease the need for a large workforce. Earlier this year, Amazon also implemented a hiring freeze in its retail division, while its cloud computing arm, Amazon Web Services (AWS), experienced layoffs in July. Reports suggest that this week's cuts may affect as many as 30,000 employees, representing approximately 10% of Amazon's corporate workforce, with significant layoffs anticipated within the HR and devices teams.