Google India lays off 453 employees across the company
What's the story
Last month, Google's parent Alphabet announced its decision to fire around 12,000 employees. Now, Google India has reportedly axed 453 staffers across various departments. Per BusinessLine, sacked employees were informed of the company's decision by Sanjay Gupta, country head and vice president of Google India. It is unclear whether the layoffs in India are part of the 12,000 job cuts.
Context
Why does this story matter?
The tech industry has been hit by a slew of layoffs. Amazon, Alphabet, Microsoft, Meta, and Snap, are some of the big names that fired employees in the past few months. During the pandemic, Google was on a hiring spree. However, the uncertainties that became synonymous with the post-pandemic economy forced the company to cut costs. The layoffs are part of that.
Layoffs
Emails contained inputs from Sundar Pichai
Fired employees reportedly received emails about the decision on Thursday night. While announcing Alphabet's decision to lay off last month, CEO Sundar Pichai had taken "full responsibility" for the decision. The emails Indian employees received also had similar inputs from Pichai. Fired Google staffers will get support based on the local law, Pichai had said last month.
Departments
The layoffs are a result of a review by Alphabet
Google India's decision to fire employees will affect different departments, including recruiting, corporate functions, products, and engineering. Last month, Pichai said that the layoffs are a result of a "rigorous review across product areas and functions." "The roles we're eliminating reflect the outcome of that review. They cut across Alphabet, product areas, functions, levels, and regions," he added.
Headcount
Investors have been asking company to reduce headcount
In the email Pichai sent employees last month, he said the company hired rapidly in recent years "for a different economic reality than the one we face today." The company hired 12,765 employees in the September quarter alone. According to Morgan Stanley, since the beginning of the pandemic, Alphabet hired over 63,000 staffers. Alphabet's investors have been clamoring for a reduction in headcount.
YouTube
YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki is stepping down
Meanwhile, YouTube's long-time CEO Susan Wojcicki said she is stepping down from her role. She has been at the company for 25 years. Wojcicki's garage was, at one point, Google's headquarters. She will remain an advisor at Alphabet. She will be replaced by Indian-American Neal Mohan, YouTube's chief product officer since 2015. Wojcicki called Mohan "a terrific leader."