Google CEO Sundar Pichai has announced that the company will be reducing its workforce by approximately 12,000 roles. In an email sent to employees earlier today, Pichai expressed his regret at the decision and acknowledged the impact it will have on the lives of those affected. "This will mean saying goodbye to some incredibly talented people we worked hard to hire and have loved working with. I’m deeply sorry for that," Pichai wrote. He went on to take responsibility for the decisions that led to this outcome, explaining that the company had made a lot more hires in the past two years to match and fuel its dramatic growth. Pichai also acknowledged the contributions of the employees who will be leaving the company, saying, "To the Googlers who are leaving us: Thank you for working so hard to help people and businesses everywhere." To support the affected employees, Google has outlined a number of measures it will be taking. In the US, the company will pay employees during the full notification period (minimum 60 days), offer a severance package starting at 16 weeks’ salary plus two weeks for every additional year at Google, and accelerate at least 16 weeks of GSU vesting. Additionally, Google will pay 2022 bonuses and the remaining vacation time, and offer 6 months of healthcare, job placement services, and immigration support for those affected. Outside the US, Google will support employees in line with local practices. This decision to reduce its workforce comes as a surprise, given Google's recent financial success. However, the company has been facing increasing scrutiny over its business practices, and it's likely that this move is aimed at streamlining operations and addressing concerns about the company's size and power. #Google #Layoffs #WorkforceReduction #CEO #Support