GARNER – The slate of Amazon layoffs may be larger than initially expected, and a new report describes how.
In a new story from ComputerWorld, Apurva Venkat reports that the layoffs at the tech giant are now expected to nearly double to about 20,000 total layoffs.
That includes layoffs from multiple geographic locations, and includes the IT department, as well as layoffs at “all levels of employees” according to sources that Venkat spoke with in reporting the story, published earlier on Friday.
“Company managers over the last few days, however, have been told that they should try to identify work performance problems among employees, as part of an effort to lay off about 20,000 people, according to sources,” Venkat’s report reads.
According to the report, corporate employees will receive 24 hours notice of the layoff and will receive severance pay “in accordance with their company contracts.”
Venkat reported that one source describes a “sense of fear” among employees.
But a source familiar with the matter told WRAL TechWire that the number of layoffs may be closer to 10,000 as reported in November by the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and WRAL TechWire, than to the 20,000 figure contained within the ComputerWorld report.
Amazon operates a large distribution center in Garner and many other facilities across North Carolina. A website maintained by the company states that the company has hired more than 32,000 full-time and part-time workers across the state across all roles.
Amazon CEO on layoffs: ‘We just felt like we needed to streamline our costs’
What’s happening with Amazon layoffs
The Wall Street Journal and New York Times both reported in November that Amazon would make some 10,000 layoffs. A few days later, a company executive confirmed that layoffs had already begun with a blog post published on Amazon’s website.
Then, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy published a blog post on Amazon’s website, noting that while some layoffs had already begun, the company was in the midst of an annual planning process.
“Our annual planning process extends into the new year, which means there will be more role reductions as leaders continue to make adjustments,” Jassy wrote. “We haven’t concluded yet exactly how many other roles will be impacted.”
Jassy noted that some layoffs would be disclosed in 2023.
“We just felt like we needed to streamline our costs,” Jassy said during an interview on Wednesday at the The New York Times DealBook conference.
The company did not respond to a request for comment on the ComputerWorld report or on whether layoffs would reach 20,000.
