Amazon Notifies Canadian Employees of Layoffs via Mistaken Internal Email

Amazon recently found itself in a precarious situation when an internal email mistakenly informed employees about upcoming layoffs. This incident, which primarily affected Amazon Web Services (AWS) employees, comes at a time when the company is planning significant job cuts.

Details of the Mistaken Email Notification

On Tuesday, Amazon’s senior vice president of applied AI solutions, Colleen Aubrey, sent an email indicating that some employees in the U.S., Canada, and Costa Rica had already been notified of their terminations. This message was sent a day before the layoffs were officially scheduled to be communicated.

Response and Cancellation

In reaction to the premature notification, AWS employees reported that a subsequent team meeting to discuss these layoffs was quickly canceled. The aim of the email was to address changes related to what is termed “Project Dawn.”

Layoff Plans and Company Context

Reports indicate that Amazon plans to lay off thousands of corporate employees starting this week. Although the specific impact on AWS and other divisions remains unclear, it ties into broader efforts by the company to reduce its corporate workforce by approximately 30,000 positions.

• In October, Amazon announced the layoff of about 14,000 employees as part of this plan.
• The total job cuts represent about 10% of Amazon’s corporate workforce.
• Amazon’s workforce stands at approximately 1.58 million globally.

Focus on Artificial Intelligence

As the company continues to invest heavily in artificial intelligence, changes to its workforce are seen as necessary. Amazon’s head of human resources, Beth Galetti, hinted at more job cuts in the future connected to the rise of AI technologies.

Future Implications

While Amazon has not disclosed exact numbers for the impending cuts, the recent mistaken email underscores the uncertainty and anxiety among employees. The company has yet to comment further on this incident and its layoff strategy.

As Amazon navigates these complex changes, many employees await clarity regarding their positions and the future of the company amidst its shift toward AI-centric operations.