Last year, Google merged the teams responsible for Pixel hardware and Android software into one division. Today, Google announced a “voluntary exit program” for employees working in the Platforms & Devices group. This program applies to US employees working on various products, including Android (Auto, TV, Wear OS, XR), Chrome, ChromeOS, Google Photos, Google One, Pixel, Fitbit, and Nest.
Google, following in the illustrious footsteps of Elon Musk and Donald Trump. How original. Just like Musk’s “hardcore” Twitter memo and Trump’s federal employee buyout, Google is now offering a “voluntary exit program” to its Platforms and Devices team. The memo, dripping with corporate doublespeak, promises severance for those who choose to leave. But let’s be real, it’s a thinly veiled attempt to weed out the uncommitted.
SVP Rick Osterloh sent out a memo to employees about the program, which offers severance packages to those who choose to leave. The memo frames this exit program as beneficial for those who might not be aligned or passionate about the combined organization’s mission or are having difficulty with their roles and hybrid working requirements.
Osterloh laims there’s “tremendous momentum” and that they want everyone to be “deeply committed” to the mission. Translation: If you’re not willing to work yourself to the bone, there’s the door. This move, much like Musk’s ultimatum at Twitter and Trump’s push to shrink the government workforce, is all about cutting costs and boosting efficiency, no matter the human toll.
So, if you’re not “deeply committed” to Google’s grand vision, you might want to start packing. After all, who needs job security when you can have “momentum” and “efficiency”?
The program does not coincide with any product roadmap changes, and it aims to retain employees who are deeply committed to the mission of building great products with speed and efficiency. This move comes after the hardware division cut a few hundred roles last January when it reorganized into a functional model.
And let’s not forget, this offer might just be a prelude to another round of layoffs. The Platforms and Devices division hasn’t exactly been a goldmine for Google. The Pixel phones, for instance, have never come close to the sales numbers of Apple or Samsung. So, this “voluntary exit program” could very well be a strategic move to trim the fat before swinging the layoff axe once again.
