Verizon Communications Inc. met with customer service employees last summer, signaling imminent “restructuring” and “streamlining” measures expected to result in substantial layoffs, as reported by The Verge. With over 6,000 employees present during the call, the impact of these consolidation measures may extend beyond initial estimates. Verizon was slated to reveal details about the restructuring plan last summer, as conveyed in a prerecorded message to employees. However, no public updates have since been released. Workforce Reductions Across Companies The reported layoffs at Verizon align with a broader trend of U.S. companies, including Meta Platforms Inc. and Alphabet Inc., implementing workforce reductions due to a demand downturn attributed to elevated inflation and rising interest rates. In April, Verizon fell short of its first-quarter revenue and free cash flow estimates, citing wireless subscriber losses as inflation-weary Americans postponed device upgrades, and the...

Following recent staff cuts in Google ‘s Augmented Reality (AR) division, the advertising sales team now faces additional layoffs, marking part of a broader restructuring initiative aimed at improving the quality of ads customer service. This move aligns with an industry trend seen in significant job cuts at companies like Amazon and Duolingo in 2024. Google’s culture, it seems, goes beyond policies; it’s about employees’ sentiments, posing a profound challenge. In January 2023, Google implemented a substantial workforce reduction, cutting 12,000 employees, equivalent to approximately 6% of its workforce. The company notified affected US staff abruptly through an early-morning email, leading to expressions of dismay among some laid-off workers. The Layoffs Are Continuing To Unfold Anticipated next is Google’s CEO addressing employee concerns and sharing insights on recent developments, including details on layoffs and their potential impacts on various roles. The CEO’s decision to...

The current job market has people on a roller coaster of expectations. With shifts across several industries, layoffs have been a large part of the uncertainty many people have experienced in the present landscape. The tech industry, particularly, has faced much criticism during this frustrating time as many of the tech giants announced major layoffs disproportionately affecting BIPOC individuals and women. The trend has become so pervasive that U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Lee has led the charge in calling out the impacts of the layoffs.

Have you ever received a gift that you did not want? Like it was just all-around bad? Well, that’s many people’s sentiment about this current job market. It’s dishing out notices no one wants to hear, such as layoffs and downsizing. And BuzzFeed is the latest to announce changes in its workforce.

Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines Performative as “made or done for show (as to bolster one’s own image or make a positive impression on others).” This is what the word means as it relates to disapproving, self-serving actions. At the crux of events after the George Floyd murder in 2020, several actors in the United States responded in ways that did not move policy or legislation but were assumed to appease the heightened emotions of Black people across the globe. The referenced actions were described as performative, moves that seemed to speak to culture without addressing the root cause of what was happening. One of the most pervasive actions stemming from that year was that companies across several industries made statements about justice and equity while flooding job sites with new roles that support diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives (DEI). Persons hired to manage and lead DEI departments were tasked with providing internal and external-facing solutions. They were...

Netflix has been frequently in the headlines as of late. Shortly after news broke regarding a drop in its subscribers (over 200,000), the streaming giant recently made headlines due to reported layoffs. According to TechCrunch, the company laid off editorial staff from its in-house publication Tudum only five months after its launch.