Archive · 29 Jan 2026
Amazon Announces 16,000 Layoffs in New Round
Amazon sent an internal email on January 27, 2024, about upcoming layoffs, which was accidentally sent and then recalled.
The email, titled 'Project Dawn,' was sent by Colleen Aubrey, a senior vice president at Amazon Web Services (AWS).
The company plans to lay off about 16,000 employees across various divisions, including AWS, retail, Prime Video, and HR.
This is part of a broader plan to cut 30,000 corporate jobs, with half of those reductions still pending.
Affected workers will have 90 days to find another role internally or receive transition support.
Amazon has been trimming its workforce to streamline operations and reduce costs, following a surge in hiring during the pandemic.
The company will continue hiring and investing in strategic areas despite the layoffs.
Amazon announced layoffs affecting approximately 16,000 roles across various divisions, including AWS, retail, Prime Video, and HR.
The layoffs are part of a broader plan to cut 30,000 corporate jobs, with half of the reductions still pending from a previous round in October 2023.
Affected US-based employees will have 90 days to find another role internally, with transition support including severance pay and health insurance benefits.
Amazon will continue hiring and investing in strategic areas despite the layoffs, aiming to reduce layers and streamline decision-making.
The layoffs follow a misstep in communication, where an internal email about the cuts was accidentally sent and then recalled, raising concerns internally.
- Who
- Amazon employees, specifically in AWS, retail, Prime Video, HR, Fresh, and Go divisions
- What
- Planned layoffs and organizational changes
- When
- January 27, 2024 (email sent), with expected announcements on January 27 or 28, 2024
- Where
- Amazon's cloud computing, retail, and grocery units
- Why
- To reduce layers, boost ownership, and streamline decision-making
- Company
- Amazon
- Division Affected
- AWS, Retail, Prime Video, HR, Fresh, Go
- Date of Email
- January 27, 2024
- Senior VP of Applied AI Solutions
- Colleen Aubrey
- Amazon's HR Boss
- Beth Galetti
- Project Mentioned
- Project Dawn
- Previous Layoffs
- October 2023 (14,000 employees)
- Expected Layoff Announcement
- January 27 or 28, 2024
- Severance Period
- 90 days
- Fourth-Quarter Earnings Report
- February 5, 2024
- Total Employees
- 1.58 million
- Total Layoffs Target
- 30,000 employees
Sources
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