Layoffs

Google has eliminated more than one-third of its managers overseeing small teams, an executive told employees last week, as the company continues its focus on efficiencies across the organization.

“Right now, we have 35% fewer managers, with fewer direct reports” than at this time a year ago, said Brian Welle, vice president of people analytics and performance, according to audio of an all-hands meeting reviewed by CNBC.

This from the same company that thought it could just have CEOs all the way down and I guess many of these impacted roles were managing fewer than three people. I suppose this does dovetail with their own research they frequently publish at https://rework.withgoogle.com/intl/en/

During May’s round of layoffs, Microsoft emphasized that it wanted to flatten management layers. But data from Washington state showed only about 17% of those cuts in Redmond, where Microsoft is headquartered, were designated as managers. … “Our platform, hardware and game road map have never looked stronger,” he said. “The success we’re seeing currently is based on tough decisions we’ve made previously. … We will protect what is thriving and concentrate effort on areas with the greatest potential, while delivering on the expectations the company has for our business.” … The roles affected during layoffs in May and June included some that could be changed by AI-driven efficiencies. Software engineers were hit the hardest, with more than 800 laid off in Washington out of the initial 1,985 employees laid off in May. Other heavily represented roles were product and program managers.