The Blubber

Google on Tuesday offered voluntary buyouts to employees across multiple divisions — including its Knowledge and Information (K&I) unit, central engineering, marketing, research, and communications teams — according to internal information obtained by CNBC.

The K&I division, which oversees Search, Ads, and Commerce, has been a particular focus of the program. The move marks Google’s latest effort to streamline operations, following ongoing waves of headcount reductions that began with the layoff of 12,000 employees in 2023.

While CNBC was unable to verify the total number of employees affected by the new buyout round, The Information earlier reported that Search and Ads staff were among those eligible.

The buyouts — part of a “voluntary exit program” (VEP) — are limited to U.S.-based employees. Google confirmed that in tandem with the buyouts, some teams are now requiring remote workers living within 50 miles of an office to return in person under a hybrid schedule, intended to encourage more face-to-face collaboration.

“Earlier this year, some of our teams introduced a voluntary exit program with severance for U.S.-based Googlers, and several more are now offering the program to support our important work ahead,” said Google spokesperson Courtenay Mencini in a statement to CNBC.

The K&I unit, which includes roughly 20,000 employees, underwent a leadership reorganization in October, with Nick Fox stepping in to lead. In a memo sent Tuesday, Fox encouraged employees who are energized and performing well to stay, while suggesting the VEP could be a good option for those who feel misaligned with the company’s strategy or are struggling to meet expectations.

“I want to be very clear: 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 in the memo, reviewed by CNBC. “On the other hand, this VEP offers a supportive exit path for those of you who don’t feel aligned with our strategy, don’t feel energized by your work, or are having difficulty meeting the expectations of your role.”

The buyout initiative follows comments from CFO Anat Ashkenazi, who in October emphasized the importance of cost-cutting as Google ramps up investment in AI infrastructure throughout 2025.

Additionally, the company is revamping one of its widely used internal learning platforms, shifting focus from optional programs to training employees on the use of modern AI tools, CNBC reported Tuesday.