It’s Official: Amazon Fires 16,000 Employees!

As we have reported last week, global e-commerce giant Amazon has fired 16,000 more employees after the initial 14,000 layoffs that were carried out last year. The total layoff count stands at 30,000, which is roughly 10% of Amazon’s global headcount. 

Amazon senior executives have communicated to the terminated employees about the latest decision and it is established that United States based employees will get a bit more leeway. 

Amazon stated “The reductions we are making today will impact approximately 16,000 roles across Amazon, and we’re again working hard to support everyone whose role is impacted.”

This starts with offering most US-based employees 90 days to look for a new role internally (timing will vary internationally based on local and country level requirements). 

Then, for teammates who are unable to find a new role at Amazon or who choose not to look for one, Amazon will provide transition support including severance pay, outplacement services, health insurance benefits and more.

Amazon demonstrated the action on Wednesday to fire about 16,000 employees as it seeks to “strengthen” its business by reducing “layers” and “bureaucracy” within its workforce. This is easily one of the biggest layoff activity carried out by a global company since the Covid pandemic.