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1 day ago
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Google is starting to offer buyouts to US-based employees in its sprawling Search organization, along with other divisions like marketing, research, and core engineering, according to multiple employees familiar with the matter.
The buyouts, which Google is referring to as a “voluntary exit program,” are currently not being offered to employees in DeepMind, Google Cloud, YouTube, or Google’s central ad sales organization. Employees in Google’s platforms and services group, which includes Android and the Pixel line of devices, were offered buyouts earlier this year before the company enacted layoffs. It’s unclear if more layoffs will follow this week’s buyout announcement. Employees in some orgs are being offered a minimum of 14 weeks’ pay with a July 1st enrollment deadline.
Other parts of Google, including YouTube, are also requiring US employees within a 50-mile radius of an office to return to work at least three days a week by September, or be laid off with severance.
In an internal memo I obtained, Nick Fox, the head of Google’s wider “Knowledge and Information” group that includes Search, called the buyout program a “supportive exit path for those of you who don’t feel aligned with our strategy, don’t feel energized by your work, or are having difficulty meeting the expectations of your role.”
Another senior engineering exec, Jen Fitzpatrick, said in a separate internal memo that Google had “seen positive feedback across the company in other orgs who have offered similar programs,” and that “when it comes to connection, collaboration, and moving quickly to innovate together, there’s just no substitute for coming together in person.”
You can read Nick Fox’s full internal memo below:
Hey all--
It’s been an incredible few months -- we shared our vision at I/O and GML, and we’ve been shipping at a dizzying pace. We’ve seen a super positive response to AI Mode including our shopping announcements, heard excitement about our new ads experiences directly from businesses, and are bringing Maps to cutting-edge new surfaces like Gemini Live and XR glasses. It’s been intense – but also intensely fun and energizing – and I’ve seen and heard the same from many of you. I took on this role to lead K&I because I believe there’s no better place to transform the lives of billions of users through this AI moment. This is the opportunity of a lifetime -- and it’s here right now.
In this exciting time and with so much important work underway, my goal is for every single one of us here to be all-in on building the future of our products. To support this, I’ve made two decisions.
Offering a Voluntary Exit Program (VEP) for K&I Googlers in the U.S.
Some orgs at Google have offered a Voluntary Exit Program (VEP) over the past few months, and I’ve been paying close attention and considering whether we should do the same for K&I. After hearing positive feedback on those pilots as well as requests within our org, I’ve decided to offer a VEP -- this gives eligible U.S-based K&I Googlers (my direct reporting org) the ability to voluntarily leave the company with a severance package.
I want to be very clear: If you’re excited about your work, energized by the opportunity ahead, and performing well, I really (really!) hope you don’t take this! We have ambitious plans and tons to get done. We need your energy and dedication, and I want you at Google! On the other hand, this VEP offers a supportive exit path for those of you who don’t feel aligned with our strategy, don’t feel energized by your work, or are having difficulty meeting the expectations of your role.
Work location policy change for Local Remote K&I Googlers in the U.S.
For hybrid K&I Googlers, coming into the office on a hybrid schedule is part of our expectations. You’ve heard me say that I believe we innovate better and make decisions faster when we’re working together in the office. I’ve decided to update our work location policy to be more consistent, so U.S. K&I Googlers who are currently fully remote and live within 50 miles of one of our K&I return sites will transition back to the office. This means they’ll align to the 3/2 hybrid schedule that nearly all K&I Googlers are already on. We’re working to ensure our offices are ready to support our team as we welcome more Googlers back into the office, and we are offering relocation support if Local Remote K&I Googlers wish to be closer to their return site.
Looking ahead
My goal here is to ensure that everyone on our team is fully committed -- it’s not to achieve a headcount target. In fact, we continue to hire where needed, and we expect to backfill many of the exited roles -- which will also create new opportunities for internal mobility and growth.
We’ll follow up with all U.S.-based K&I Googlers and with U.S. Local Remote K&I Googlers to share relevant details by the end of the day. I hope you feel empowered to make the decision that’s right for you, and I really hope that you’re inspired by the opportunity here and choose to stay and build with us.
Thanks,
-Nick
The Information first reported on the buyouts for the Search org.
