Latest news with #K&I
The Hindu
28-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Why is Google buying out its employees?
The story so far: Google has taken action to reduce its workforce across departments, by using a mix of strategies. These measures involve announcing a voluntary exit programme for several teams based in the U.S., and mandating a hybrid work schedule for remote workers who live within 50 miles of an approved office. Other employees have also reportedly been affected by layoffs. What is Google's employee buyout programme? According to an internal memo shared by Business Insider, the Senior Vice President of Core Systems at Google, Jen Fitzpatrick, said the company was offering a Voluntary Exit Program (VEP) for Core Googlers in the U.S. This means that eligible Google employees, called Googlers, will be allowed to resign and also receive severance pay. 'The Voluntary Exit Program may be a fit Core Googlers who aren't feeling excited about and aligned with Core's mission and goals, or those who are having difficulty meeting the demands of their role,' said Fitzpatrick. The buyout option was offered to employees in Google's Knowledge & Information and central engineering teams. Those in the marketing, research, and communications teams could also avail the option, per CNBC. This is not the first time Google has offered a voluntary exit to workers; the company had proposed buyouts to eligible U.S.-based employees in its People Operations department and its Platforms and Devices group, per media reports. Employee buyouts are a less drastic way for companies to reduce their headcount, although the exact number of departing employees is hard to predict. Because employees choose to leave, this strategy triggers less bad press than a mass layoff. It further reduces the risk of fired employees legally challenging their termination. In the case of large layoffs, U.S. companies may have to provide advance notice to the relevant labour regulators. As noted by Fitzpatrick, employee buyouts can help filter out workers who are only keeping their jobs for financial reasons and would prefer to go elsewhere with a safety net in the form of severance pay. In early 2023, when Google announced it was cutting around 12,000 jobs or about 6% of its workforce, it faced significant backlash. Since then, Google has carried out smaller layoff rounds across its voice assistant units, hardware teams (Pixel/Nest/Fitbit) advertising sales team, and its AR team. Earlier this week, the live layoffs tracker claimed that 75 Google employees were to be laid off, citing a report by The Information. How does this impact engineers in the K&I team? Employees in K&I, who work on Google Search, Ads, Geo, and Commerce products, were offered employee buyouts, according to the Business Insider report. Google is investing heavily in Generative AI and rapidly infusing its offerings with AI features so that it can better compete with rivals such as OpenAI. Google's Knowledge & Information team further launched AI Overviews, Circle to Search, video understanding, 'shop what you see' in Lens, and improvements to Search functionality, according to Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai. However, the tech giant is facing antitrust lawsuits over its growing dominance in market sectors such as search and ad networks. Google's potential antitrust issues in the AI market have also been flagged by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). What is Google's new remote work policy? In addition to the employee buyouts across several divisions, Google confirmed that multiple teams were asking remote employees to transition to a hybrid work schedule where they would spend three days in office. This can also serve to trigger employee resignations, with labour advocates sometimes terming this strategy as 'backdoor layoffs.' The internal memo sent to Core Googlers cited reasons such as 'connection, collaboration, and moving quickly to innovate together,' for bringing more employees back to the office. However, Fitzpatrick claimed that the company's intention was not to reduce the number of Core Googlers, and that it was aimed instead at internal mobility and creating growth opportunities. Which other companies are reducing their headcount? Apart from Google, other major tech companies that let go of employees in recent weeks include Intel and Microsoft. Intel is planning to shut down its small automotive business and cut most workers there, according to a report from the Oregon Live/The Oregonian. Another report from the outlet cited an internal memo to claim that Intel is planning to lay off about 15% to 20% of its factory workers. Meanwhile, Microsoft is planning major cuts in its gaming division Xbox, according to Bloomberg. Early this month, the company confirmed it would cut about 305 jobs. This came even after Microsoft laid off around 6,000 employees in May, or about 3% of its global workforce. What other challenges is Google facing? In the coming months, U.S. Judge Amit Mehta is expected to consider proposed remedies by the U.S. DOJ and Google itself to curb Google's status as an illegal monopoly in some search markets. The DOJ has favoured measures such as the forced divestment of Chrome and the formation of a Technical Committee to oversee Google's legal compliance. The tech giant naturally supports more lenient measures that do not significantly damage its lucrative business or its top position in the search market. It remains to be seen whether Judge Mehta's ruling will vindicate the DOJ or Google. But as Google's AI competitors floor the accelerator, the Big Tech giant is still trying to move forward, albeit with a leaner workforce.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Google Expands Buyouts In Search And Ads Division As AI Reshapes Priorities
Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. Alphabet, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Google on Tuesday offered buyouts to U.S.-based employees in multiple departments, including the search ads unit. The Details: The company extended the voluntary exit program to workers in several divisions, according to CNBC. Impacted teams include knowledge and information (K&I), central engineering, marketing, research and communications. K&I, which oversees Google's search, ads and commerce operations, has roughly 20,000 staff. Trending: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — In its most recent quarterly report, Alphabet disclosed that Google Search and related services generated $50.7 billion of the company's total revenue of $90.23 billion. When including all advertising streams—such as Search, YouTube ads and Google Network—the total advertising revenue reached $66.89 billion for the quarter, underscoring how central these business lines remain to Google's overall financial performance. The latest buyouts follow previous headcount reductions dating back to 2023. CNBC reported that finance chief Anat Ashkenazi previously cited cost-cutting as a key priority amid rising AI infrastructure spending. Google has also implemented return-to-office requirements for some remote employees living within 50 miles of a company location. A memo from K&I chief Nick Fox encouraged employees who are disengaged or underperforming to consider the exit package. However, he urged those excited by their roles and aligned with the company's goals to stay. Earlier this year, similar buyouts were offered in the "Platforms and Devices" and "People Operations" units. Google is also shifting internal training resources toward practical AI tools and away from less essential programs, CNBC It Matters: Ongoing cost-cutting efforts at Google underscore the company's broader strategy to reallocate resources toward artificial intelligence infrastructure. In February, Google planned voluntary buyouts in its People Operations division beginning in March. Some mid to senior-level staff were offered 14 weeks of severance plus an additional week for each year of service. The company also laid off operations support employees in its cloud unit, with some roles relocated to India and Mexico City. Despite this shift, the memo stated the U.S. would remain the cloud team's largest hub. These cuts came after Ashkenazi said cost discipline would be key as AI-related demand outpaced infrastructure capacity. She noted the company ended 2024 with "more demand than we had available capacity" for its AI products. Google's cloud division grew revenue by 30% year over year in Q4. Google continues to position cloud and AI initiatives as central to its 2025 investment priorities. Read Next: In terms of getting money back, these bank accounts put traditional checking and savings accounts to shame. Maximize saving for your retirement and cut down taxes: Schedule your free call with a financial advisor to start your financial journey – no cost, no obligation. Image: Shutterstock This article Google Expands Buyouts In Search And Ads Division As AI Reshapes Priorities originally appeared on Sign in to access your portfolio
India Today
12-06-2025
- Business
- India Today
Google offers buyout plans amid AI-focused overhaul: Report
Google has started offering voluntary buyouts to employees in several teams, including those working in its Knowledge and Information (K&I) unit, which includes its Search and Ads divisions, reported move is part of ongoing efforts to downsize its workforce, a strategy the tech giant has been employing since its notable layoffs in 2023 that affected 12,000 employees. The exact number of employees impacted by this latest buyout offer remains unconfirmed by the buyouts are part of a broader initiative to streamline operations as the company continues to allocate resources towards enhancing its artificial intelligence IS THIS NEW BUYOUT OFFER? Instead of laying people off, Google is now giving some employees the option to leave the company with a severance package. This is being called a "voluntary exit programme" (VEP).The company confirmed that the programme is meant for employees in the US, while some teams are asking remote workers living within 50 miles of an office to return part-time under a hybrid model to encourage more in-person collaboration, mentioned the DOES THE MANAGEMENT SAY?Google executive, Nick Fox, communicated via a memo that the VEP is designed to offer a supportive path for those who may not feel aligned with the company's strategic direction or are struggling to meet role emphasised in the memo that employees who are motivated, aligned with the company's goals, and performing well are encouraged to stay, the report IS THIS HAPPENING NOW?Google is shifting its focus to AI, which means reorganising teams and spending more wisely. The company wants to put more money into building AI tools and training its staff to use them why it's also shutting down some older training programmes and replacing them with new ones focused on AI Watch
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Google offers buyout option to Core Googlers, Senior VP Nick Fox sends email to employees, says: Goal here is to ...
In a strategic move, Google has started a new round of voluntary exit programs, commonly referred to as buyouts. The tech giant is now offering voluntary buyouts to employees in its Core, Search, Ads, and Knowledge & Information (K&I) divisions as part of its ongoing AI-focused restructuring. This move of the company was announcedJune 10, 2025, comes alongside a stricter return-to-office mandate, requiring remote employees near a Google office to adopt a hybrid schedule. Senior Vice President Nick Fox, who leads Google's Knowledge & Information group sent an email to employees explaining the rationale behind the buyout program. He emphasised that the goal is to provide a supportive exit path for those who don't feel aligned with Google's strategy, aren't energised by their work, or are struggling to meet expectations. The voluntary exit program offers a minimum of 14 weeks' salary, plus one additional week for every year of service. Employees in affected divisions have until July 1, 2025, to enroll in the program. ReadGoogle Senior VP Nick Fox's email sent to employees here Hey all-- by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo It's been an incredible few months -- we shared our vision at I/O and GML, and we've been shipping at a dizzying pace. We've seen a super positive response to AI Mode including our shopping announcements, heard excitement about our new ads experiences directly from businesses, and are bringing Maps to cutting-edge new surfaces like Gemini Live and XR glasses. It's been intense – but also intensely fun and energizing – and I've seen and heard the same from many of you. I took on this role to lead K&I because I believe there's no better place to transform the lives of billions of users through this AI moment. This is the opportunity of a lifetime -- and it's here right now. In this exciting time and with so much important work underway, my goal is for every single one of us here to be all-in on building the future of our products. To support this, I've made two decisions. Offering a Voluntary Exit Program (VEP) for K&I Googlers in the U.S. Some orgs at Google have offered a Voluntary Exit Program (VEP) over the past few months, and I've been paying close attention and considering whether we should do the same for K&I. After hearing positive feedback on those pilots as well as requests within our org, I've decided to offer a VEP -- this gives eligible U.S-based K&I Googlers (my direct reporting org) the ability to voluntarily leave the company with a severance package. I want to be very clear: 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. We need your energy and dedication, and I want you at Google! On the other hand, this VEP offers a supportive exit path for those of you who don't feel aligned with our strategy, don't feel energized by your work, or are having difficulty meeting the expectations of your role. Work location policy change for Local Remote K&I Googlers in the U.S. For hybrid K&I Googlers, coming into the office on a hybrid schedule is part of our expectations. You've heard me say that I believe we innovate better and make decisions faster when we're working together in the office. I've decided to update our work location policy to be more consistent, so U.S. K&I Googlers who are currently fully remote and live within 50 miles of one of our K&I return sites will transition back to the office. This means they'll align to the 3/2 hybrid schedule that nearly all K&I Googlers are already on. We're working to ensure our offices are ready to support our team as we welcome more Googlers back into the office, and we are offering relocation support if Local Remote K&I Googlers wish to be closer to their return site. Looking ahead My goal here is to ensure that everyone on our team is fully committed -- it's not to achieve a headcount target. In fact, we continue to hire where needed, and we expect to backfill many of the exited roles -- which will also create new opportunities for internal mobility and growth. We'll follow up with all U.S.-based K&I Googlers and with U.S. Local Remote K&I Googlers to share relevant details by the end of the day. I hope you feel empowered to make the decision that's right for you, and I really hope that you're inspired by the opportunity here and choose to stay and build with us. Thanks, -Nick AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
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Business Standard
11-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Google rolls out buyout offers in US teams as AI spending takes priority
Google on Tuesday initiated a fresh round of voluntary buyout offers across multiple US-based departments, including the knowledge and information (K&I) unit, central engineering, marketing, communications, and research teams, according to a report by CNBC. The K&I division includes major departments such as Search, Advertising, and Commerce. A voluntary buyout—or voluntary exit programme (VEP)—is a financial incentive offered to employees to resign willingly, typically implemented as a cost-cutting or restructuring strategy. A Google spokesperson confirmed the initiative to CNBC, stating: 'Earlier this year, some of our teams introduced a voluntary exit program with severance for U.S.-based Googlers, and several more are now offering the program to support our important work ahead.' However, the exact number of affected employees has not been disclosed. 'You may leave if you don't feel energised': Fox memo Nick Fox, who has headed the K&I unit since an October 2023 reorganisation, addressed staff in a memo urging those who feel disconnected from the company's goals or struggling with performance expectations to consider the exit offer. 'I want to be very clear: If you're excited about your work, energised by the opportunity ahead, and performing well, I really (really!) hope you don't take this,' Fox wrote in the internal communication. 'On the other hand, this VEP offers a supportive exit path for those of you who don't feel aligned with our strategy, don't feel energised by your work, or are having difficulty meeting the expectations of your role.' The exit programme applies only to full-time US-based employees. In addition, remote workers within 50 miles of a Google office are being asked to return to the office under a hybrid schedule. Previous buyouts across teams This is not the first time Google has turned to buyouts. In January, its Platforms and Devices division—including Android, Chrome, and Pixel hardware—introduced a similar voluntary exit scheme. This was followed by the People Operations division in February, which offered mid- to senior-level staff up to 14 weeks of severance, plus one additional week per year of service. Legal and finance departments have also implemented buyout initiatives. Fox noted that he reviewed earlier programmes and received positive feedback from other teams before adopting the approach for the K&I unit. AI focus drives internal restructuring Google's increased use of voluntary exits reflects its broader strategy to reallocate resources toward artificial intelligence infrastructure. The company is also investing in internal training programmes focused on deploying practical AI tools across its products. Earlier this year, some employees welcomed the buyout option over abrupt layoffs. However, the buyout offers often come with return-to-office conditions. According to an April report by CNBC, some remote employees were told to resume in-office work to retain their roles and avoid further job uncertainty.
