Amazon just laid off around 14,000 employees globally, including 2,303 in Seattle. The reason was simple on paper but complex in execution - each org was given a target to reduce operating expenses, which, in practice, meant headcount reductions across all levels (L4-L8).

These weren’t grassroots decisions. The calls were made by VPs/SVPs (L10/L11). Despite the org charts, most directors were kept out of it - a few were quietly “hinted,” but very few actually had a say. The direction came top-down and moved fast.

If you read the patterns, it’s clear there was a method to the madness: 1. Remote employees were targeted first. Fully remote roles had a flag. In a few orgs with humane leaders, some people were quietly given the option to relocate or align with a team location - those who accepted were selectively spared. Those who declined, even with solid performance, were dropped. Not everyone got this choice; it often depended on having a strong internal network or supportive L8/L10 leadership. 2. Extended leave cases came next - employees on or returning from maternity, paternity, or FMLA leave in 2025. Across orgs (especially TT/HV3), being out of sight unfortunately became a factor. 3. Once quotas still weren’t met, low performance bands (HV1s, and if needed HV2s) were tapped to close the gap.

The categories above are org, specific. I have observed this in 3 orgs. When I say org, I refer to anyone under an L8 leader. If you fall into any/all of the three above, and are still employed, you have someone higher above vouching for you or have L10 visibility high impact projects or belong to an org, which may have applied a different strategy or are simply very lucky. If your org has enough people on focus/HR escalations, it can be as simple as not employing the above flags and simply letting go of those folks.

It’s a hunting game of gazelles. The fastest ones still fell if they were remote or on leave; the slower ones got caught if the quotas weren’t filled.

A few strongly networked L6s/L7s with L8 or L10 backing managed to stay clear, but most didn’t have that safety net.

This first wave - 14K out of a rumored 30K - is likely just the beginning. Retail orgs may see action after Black Friday/Cyber Monday, and AWS after re:Invent. Expect a second major wave in January, with smaller aftershocks through November and February.

Behind the numbers are real people - friends, colleagues, and mentors. Some of the best Amazonians I know are suddenly updating résumés this week. It’s heartbreaking to watch brilliant, kind, and hardworking folks caught in something this mechanical.

So if you’re in a position to help, reach out to those impacted. Offer a referral, a conversation, or just empathy. Many could use a bit of humanity right now - both before and after whatever comes next.

Edit 1: Added caveats below the three criteria based on inputs. Added the focus/HR escalations as an override.

Amazon AWS layoffs 2025: Amazon has laid off several hundred employees from its AWS cloud division, according to Reuters. The exact number remains unclear. The cuts are part of a wider restructuring effort at the company, which comes just over a month after previous job reductions in other parts of the business.

Is it possible that Amazon put employees in Focus/Pivot then announce layoff? I heard they did it in 2023/2024 layoffs, but I am trying to see if I should wait till end of Focus to ask for FMLA, or FMLA the sooner the better before they announce the layoff by end of Q1 2025 that will be earlier than my stock vest period in May? I am emotionally exhausted at this point to plan for the best course of actions for myself.

Just got a call from a coworker this AM and he got the email that he was let go. I had been hearing they were doing this now with remote employees..and he IS remote. If you’re not tied to an office they’re cutting ties had been a rumor for a few weeks and it’s proving to be true. Has anyone else heard similar with their team? Sucks.

My friend from Amazon told me how she saw an entire team, including their manager, get laid off right in front of her eyes — all within seconds. The way they had to leave the office was honestly heartbreaking.

These layoffs are massive; entire orgs are being wiped out. The testing teams in Q3 and Q4 were the first to go. They collected company laptops on the spot, and that was it.

It’s rough out there right now.

Hunger games at Amazon

https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/amazons-aws-cloud-computing-unit-cuts-jobs-2025-07-17/

Tech layoffs: Amazon Web Services (AWS) division gave hundreds of employees the pink slip from its cloud unit earlier this week. The major wave of job cuts comes just weeks after CEO Andy Jassy stated that AI will likely reduce the need for certain roles across Amazon. Analyst Amanda Goodall, who uses the handle “@thejobchick” on X(formerly Twitter) predicted that further job cuts are expected towards the end of this year.

https://www.sfgate.com/tech/article/amazon-exec-explains-layoff-california-21129467.php

In California, Amazon filed WARNs, which are generally required in the event of mass job cuts, for seven cities: Sunnyvale (391 layoffs), Irvine (333), Palo Alto (176), Culver City (152), San Diego (145), Santa Monica (130) and Santa Clara (76). It adds up to 1,403 cuts statewide — it’s unclear how the overall cuts might be affecting subsidiaries. (Amazon also owns Audible, Twitch, Goodreads, Whole Foods, Zoox and Ring.)

Who are these laid-off workers? Software development engineers make up the largest category, with hundreds of cuts listed across the documents. Amazon is also shedding recruiters, business analysts, marketers and managers. The layoffs in Irvine and San Diego, where Amazon has video game studios, include dozens of game designers and game artists.

This sheds some light on how affected SWEs were by this layoff in California at least. Not sure about other locations. The total layoff number is 14000

Amazon is planning to cut as many as 30,000 corporate jobs beginning Tuesday, as the company works to pare expenses and compensate for overhiring during the peak demand of the pandemic, according to three people familiar with the matter.

The figure represents a small percentage of Amazon’s 1.55 million total employees, but nearly 10% of the company’s roughly 350,000 corporate employees. This would represent the largest job cut at Amazon since around 27,000 jobs were eliminated starting in late 2022.

Managers of impacted teams were asked to undergo training on Monday for how to communicate with staff following notifications that will start going out via email tomorrow morning

https://www.reuters.com/business/world-at-work/amazon-targets-many-30000-corporate-job-cuts-sources-say-2025-10-27/

What are your thoughts on this?

Amazon is laying off an unspecified number of employees in its cloud computing division, AWS (Amazon Web Services). This move is part of the company's ongoing cost-cutting efforts, which have already resulted in over 27,000 job cuts since 2022. The company explained that these layoffs follow a "thorough review" of its organizational priorities, and the cuts are aimed at streamlining operations rather than due to AI investments. However, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy has previously suggested that generative AI could lead to further workforce reductions in the future as the company embraces the technology.

While AWS revenue growth slowed earlier this year, Amazon stated that it continues to hire within the division. The layoffs are mainly in specific teams, but the company has not disclosed how many employees are affected or which units are impacted. The company has faced layoffs in other departments as well, including its retail stores and communications divisions.

Did you all ready the announcement from Andy Jassy today?

Said that due to generative AI they expect a reduction in workforce over the coming years. As well as people transitioning into different roles.

Might be hinting at layoffs or hiring less people. Who knows?

Here is the post

https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/company-news/amazon-ceo-andy-jassy-on-generative-ai

Rumor of heavy layoffs at Amazon, with 10% of total US headcount and 25% of L7s (principal-level devs). Other major companies have similar rumors of *deep* cuts.. all followed by significant investment in offshore offices.

Companies are doing to white collar jobs what they did to manufacturing back in the 60's-90's. Its honestly time for us to have a real look at killing this move overseas while most of us still have jobs.

1:1 w my skip today. Basically said confirmed layoffs in January. Multiple AWS orgs expected to be impacted. Went as far as to say our org may be one of them. Start prepping and applying boys. It’s gonna be the hunger games all over again. F*ck Jassy.

An IT veteran here who has lived through my share of corporate transformations and layoffs reflecting on the BIG announcement from Amazon coming just before the holidays:

• The number (30,000) by itself is sizable; but there is going to be a lot more voluntary and involuntary RIFs that follow. Those may not be included in this 30K number.

  • For example, Amazon in India may not 'layoff' people but ask them to resign (with a severance benefit). Such RIF (cloaked as 'resignation') is not reported as a layoff.

• Amazon is just a canary in the coalmine. Other FAANG and IT services companies are following with their own RIFs - some making headlines others not

• Analysts are pointing at reasons like AI and Automation. While there is some of it, the real reason is global slowdown.

  • Just look at US, the largest market where Federal government shutdown is going to hit fed-workers paychecks and foodstamps too.

  • Consumers who don't have a job can't buy stuff - offline or on Amazon

• Offshoring and H1 - this is a big elephant in the room. Amazon has approximately 110,000 permanent employees in India across its corporate and fulfilment centres.

  • One can assume 20-25% of such "corporate employees," especially in IT and Business Services are in India

  • The Yin-Yang that Trump did with H1-B announcement hasn't helped matters. As of June 2025, Amazon had approximately 10,044 employees on H-1B visas, making it the largest sponsor of this visa category in the United States. Can these H1 jobs be offshored by laying off locally and hiring in India?

Amazon said it’s cutting “several hundred roles” in the AWS sales, marketing and global service organization. Most of those cuts are related to business changes in AWS training and certification programs as well as sales operations. The tech giant said it was also making cuts elsewhere so it can invest in other business priorities.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/amazon-cutting-hundreds-jobs-cloud-152552547.html

I’m curious, does anyone know if any of the layoffs were from the cybersecurity team at Amazon? I know 14k was laid off, but I was curious if any of them was from cyber.