Google continues cost-cutting tactic of throwing cash at employees to leave

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Jun 11, 2025 - 12:00

Some Google Search employees are being offered buyouts as part of a new program that Google calls its “Voluntary Exit Package,” according to recent reports that Google is taking additional measures to lower the number of employees that work at its companies. A typical company in this situation might look to simply go through a round of layoffs. And indeed, Google has laid off thousands of employees over the past few years, reaching a total of around 12,000 back in 2023 alone.

This new Voluntary Exit Package is Google taking a different approach. Forgoing the act of firing people and instead offering them severance packages. It’s a move Google decided to make after facing backlash following the layoffs from a couple of years ago. It’s not clear what the exact amount of the buyout offer is. However, it’s likely dependent on each employee. For instance, some employees who have been with the company longer may have a higher salary. So, it would make sense that a buyout for these employees may end up being more.

According to CNBC, Google offered up to 14 weeks of salary in a buyout it offered back in February. In addition, the offer included more pay for long-time employees. Specifically, employees who chose to take the buyout offer ended up with one additional week of salary pay for every year they were employed at Google. It’s possible that this recent buyout offer could be similar.

Recent Google buyouts are for employees across Search, Ads, and multiple other divisions

Google’s latest wave of buyout offers is hitting a significant number of employees across several divisions. The total number of employees who have been offered the buyout isn’t known. However, it spans more than just Google’s most well-known segments. The Information reports that buyouts were offered to Search and Ads employees. Those employees are part of Google’s Knowledge and Information division. Buyouts were also reportedly offered to employees at several other divisions, including research, communication, marketing, and engineering.

Buyouts are being offered to US employees only, it seems

While Google’s latest effort to reduce its headcount is likely a shock to employees, it isn’t impacting everyone across Google globally. According to reports, the buyouts are being offered to US-based employees only.

Employees aren’t obligated to take the buyout offer. However, some may want to. A memo sent out to employees on Tuesday, June 10, stated that employees who “are having difficulty meeting the expectations” of their role may want to accept the buyout as a means of “a supportive exit path.”

The memo also attempts to convince some employees to stick with the company. “If you’re excited about your work, energized by the opportunity ahead, and performing well, I really (really!) hope you don’t take this! We have ambitious plans and tons to get done,” said Nick Fox, SVP of Knowledge and Information at Google.

Google wants more people to come back to the office

In addition to the Voluntary Exit Package, Google is also asking some employees to come back to the office. Several of the divisions impacted by the buyout are imposing mandates to bring people back in. The mandate states that employees who live within 50 miles of an office will be required to keep a hybrid schedule. In other words, part-time at the office, part-time remote work.

Google, along with many other companies, allowed employees to work remotely following the onset of the COVID pandemic back in 2020. Since then, Google has imposed at least one back-to-the-office mandate. The company reportedly started forcing employees to adopt a hybrid schedule back in April. Those who wanted to keep their jobs would need to follow this mandate. The same will likely apply here.

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