The Biggest Layoff Wave in Recent Years at Amazon: 16,000 People Will Be Affected!
Amazon announced its plan to eliminate approximately 16,000 positions globally. The plan came to light after an internal email was mistakenly sent.
Amazon plans to layoff approximately 16,000 positions globally, primarily within Amazon Web Services (AWS). The plan came to light after an internal email that informed employees in advance about the upcoming layoffs was mistakenly sent. It was stated that this plan is part of a broader restructuring process aimed at reducing bureaucracy and reshaping the corporate workforce.
The internal email in question was mistakenly sent on Tuesday night. The email message, which was understood to be erroneous, caused confusion among teams before Amazon made its official announcement on Wednesday morning. Amazon did not provide a detailed explanation regarding which teams or countries would be affected by the layoffs. However, it was noted that this step is a continuation of a comprehensive corporate downsizing plan that had been previously signaled.
The Mistakenly Sent Email Created Confusion Within AWS
According to information reviewed by Reuters and the BBC, the confusion began when a draft email signed by “Colleen Aubrey” was mistakenly sent to employees. Aubrey’s message, who is the Senior Vice President responsible for Applied Artificial Intelligence Solutions at AWS, had been embedded in a calendar invitation sent to employees. The title of the invitation was “Send Project Dawn email.” This phrase referred to the internal code name used by Amazon for the layoffs.
The email stated that some employees in the United States, Canada, and Costa Rica had been informed that they had been laid off. However, at that time, no official notification had yet been made to the affected employees. Employees who received the message stated that the related meeting planned for Wednesday was canceled shortly afterward and that the uncertainty increased even further.
The message emphasized that the layoffs were part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the company. It also stated that such changes were difficult but necessary for the future success of Amazon and AWS. Amazon did not initially respond to requests for comment regarding the erroneous sending.
Amazon Enters a Broad Restructuring and Strategic Change
Early on Wednesday, Amazon officially announced that it would carry out layoffs of approximately 16,000 people in order to streamline operations and reduce organizational layers. This announcement came after the elimination of approximately 14,000 corporate positions in October. In addition, the company had also reported that it made additional layoffs this week as part of its plan to close Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go branded stores or convert some of them into Whole Foods stores.
Sources close to the matter who spoke to Reuters stated that some roles within AWS, retail operations, Prime Video, and human resources units would be affected. However, the full scope of the cuts was not shared with the public. Although these layoffs constitute a small portion of Amazon’s global workforce of approximately 1.5 million people, they correspond to about 10 percent of corporate employees.
These steps are considered part of the cost-cutting policies carried out under the leadership of Andy Jassy, who took office after founder Jeff Bezos stepped down from the CEO position four years ago. During this period, Amazon introduced a requirement to work from the office five days a week and began implementing stricter controls over corporate spending.
Beth Galetti Addressed Employees Regarding the Layoffs
Beth Galetti, Amazon’s Senior Vice President of People Experience and Technology, confirmed the scope of the layoffs and explained the company’s rationale in a message she shared with employees on Wednesday. Galetti stated that this step is a continuation of the efforts announced in October to reduce layers within the organization, increase ownership, and eliminate bureaucracy.
Galetti said that the changes would affect approximately 16,000 roles across Amazon and stated that they were working to provide support to affected employees. She noted that the majority of U.S.-based employees would be given 90 days to find a new position within the company, while international processes would vary according to local regulations. She added that employees who are unable to find a new role within Amazon or who choose not to pursue this option would be provided with benefits such as severance pay, career transition support, and, where applicable, health insurance.
Galetti also addressed concerns that the company would carry out broad layoffs every few months, stating that this was not Amazon’s plan. However, she emphasized that teams would continue to evaluate their speed and capacity to innovate for customers. Galetti also added that Amazon would continue hiring and investing in strategically important areas.
The Ongoing Transformation Process
Amazon had previously linked the layoffs to the increased use of artificial intelligence and the improvement of operational efficiency in its earlier statements. In Galetti’s blog post published in October, it was also stated that the company was likely to make additional adjustments in line with changing market conditions and technological transformation.
While the mistakenly sent email revealed disruptions in internal communication during a sensitive period, Amazon’s official statement demonstrated that the company continues to reshape its corporate structure in line with its cost control, innovation, and long-term growth objectives.