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Google has begun offering voluntary buyouts to employees across several major divisions, including Search, Ads, Marketing, and Central Engineering, as part of its ongoing cost-cutting efforts.

The move is aimed at reducing headcount while avoiding the backlash it faced after mass layoffs in 2023.

The latest buyouts are part of what Google calls a "Voluntary Exit Program" (VEP), available to US-based employees.

According to CNBC, workers in the Knowledge and Information (K&I) division, which houses the company's search, ads, and commerce teams, are among those affected.

The program follows similar offers made earlier this year to employees in Google's hardware, human resources, and legal departments.

In a memo to K&I staff, division head Nick Fox explained that the buyouts are being offered to provide "a supportive exit path" for employees who may not feel aligned with the company's current strategy or are struggling to meet job expectations.

"If you're excited about your work, energized by the opportunity ahead, and performing well, I really (really!) hope you don't take this!" Fox wrote.

Google Employees Face Buyouts and Return-to-Office Mandates

While Google has not disclosed how many workers are eligible for or have accepted the offer, the K&I division alone includes around 20,000 employees. Some of them are also being asked to return to office work.

The company confirmed that remote employees who live within 50 miles of a Google office will be required to adopt a hybrid schedule in the future.

Google spokesperson Courtenay Mencini said the buyout program is being expanded to support the company's "important work ahead."

That work includes significant investments in artificial intelligence infrastructure, a top priority for the company as it moves into 2025.

This shift comes after Google laid off about 12,000 employees in January 2023, which drew criticism from staff over how suddenly access was cut off, even for high-performing or long-tenured workers, TheWeek said.

In contrast, the buyout program has been received more positively by some employees. Earlier this year, one staff member wrote internally, "Offering buyouts first is what we asked for, it's the right thing to do."

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