New Delhi: Google is providing voluntary exit packages to a number of workers in the UK, as they have the option of exiting the company whilst the company pays them severance. The step reflects the example of the US, where the company introduced similar programmes as it reorganises its teams and becomes more focused on artificial intelligence. This is believed to have been reported in an internal email, which was first written about by Business Insider and which notified the staff of the offer this week but does not state the number of employees who qualify to receive the offer or what teams are covered.
The company claims that the UK programme is meant to help it in its long-term strategies and is not a measure to demonstrate that it has reduced dedications to the region. Google is still recruiting for critical roles, especially those associated with the development of AI. Outside of the UK, it employs over 7,000 people as employees, meaning that a restricted voluntary exit programme could affect a lot of workers.
Why Google is offering buyouts?
This year, tech giants have been reconsidering their approaches to staffing as they strive to be efficient and to speed up their AI plans. Amazon, Meta and Microsoft had all reduced jobs or offered similar ways out. Google has already conducted voluntary buyouts in the US of such teams as Android and Core Engineering, indicating a large-scale organisational change to AI-first in the company.
Within the company, the leadership has made it clear that AI priorities will reorganise the teams inside the company. Those employees who do not fit in this new direction are getting the chance to move away with financial support. YouTube has followed a similar approach, and this year CEO Neal Mohan already provided voluntary exits before more AI-based changes.
The implementation of the UK programme is allowing Google to redefine its workforce as well as providing workers with an opportunity to take a break from their conditions. The voluntary programme illustrates the extent to which the AI shift is penetrating key decisions in big tech firms as they head to the next stage of competition.