As Google navigates a difficult period marked by ongoing layoffs and cost-cutting measures, anxiety over job security is rising among employees. According to a CNBC report, over 1,250 workers across the US and Canada have signed an internal petition titled “Job Security,” expressing concerns about their futures with the company. This growing unease comes amid a series of setbacks for Google, including disappointing product launches, employee protests, and the continuation of layoffs that began in 2023. The petition reflects a broader sense of uncertainty within the company as employees brace for further cuts and changes in the coming months.
What does the petition say?
The petition expresses deep concern among Google employees regarding the growing instability within the company. It highlights how this uncertainty is affecting their ability to produce high-quality and impactful work. The petition underscores the constant threat of layoffs, which has fostered a climate of insecurity among workers. It also points out the disheartening nature of the ongoing layoffs, especially given Google’s strong financial position, and the lack of clear explanation for the departure of many valuable colleagues. The petition calls attention to the emotional and professional toll these factors are having on the workforce.
Google CFO’s message triggers fear of more layoffs
Under the leadership of Google’s new Chief Financial Officer, Anat Ashkenazi, cost-cutting measures have become a top priority, especially as the company plans to heavily invest in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure in 2025. Ashkenazi has indicated that there are still further opportunities to reduce expenses, fueling concerns among employees about the possibility of additional layoffs. When employees sought clarification from Google’s leadership, no specific information was provided, heightening the uncertainty.
In response to these concerns, the petition demands that Google CEO Sundar Pichai consider offering voluntary buyouts before resorting to layoffs, ensure severance packages for those who are let go, and refrain from using performance reviews as a justification for dismissals. Some employees worry that low performance ratings are being used strategically to facilitate layoffs, but Google has denied these claims, asserting that performance evaluations are fair and aligned with individual roles and expectations.
