In response to recent staffing cuts at Google, reports indicate that some employees are organising public rallies at Google office locations across the United States.
An event organised for January 18th by a labour group called the Alphabet Workers Union aims to challenge the nearly 15,000 job eliminations enacted over the past year. The Alphabet Workers Union views the layoffs as unwarranted, contrary to statements made by Google leadership justifying the decisions. The union’s communications chair, Stephen McMurtry, highlighted consequences like disrupted operations, heavier workloads, and high anxiety levels for remaining staff fearful of more cuts.
Google maintains they are responsibly prioritising key areas and opportunities moving forward, which required organisational shifts involving role removal globally.
They say transition assistance has been offered internally and externally to affected individuals. Amid the planned demonstrations, some call for more empathy in the separation process. Engineering manager Kenneth Smith received notice by email and advocated for in-person meetings to soften the blow. Commentators also argue the pattern shows a lack of loyalty to long-standing personnel abruptly cut loose.