Amazon has confirmed a new wave of 16,000 job cuts, coming just hours after a draft internal email was accidentally leaked to staff. The error occurred when a calendar invitation titled “Send project Dawn email” was mistakenly shared, revealing that roles in the US, Canada, and Costa Rica would be eliminated.
The Strategy: “Project Dawn”
The layoffs are part of a broader effort led by CEO Andy Jassy to streamline operations and reduce management layers.
- Total Impact: These 16,000 cuts follow a round of 14,000 layoffs in October.
- The Goal: To “remove bureaucracy” and increase ownership so the firm can “move faster for customers.”
- Timeline: Insiders suggest the company aims for a total of 30,000 roles cut by the end of May 2026.
A Cultural “Rethink”
This restructuring coincides with a significant shift in Amazon’s workplace culture. Under Jassy, the company has mandated a five-day in-office week and is aggressively monitoring costs, including auditing corporate phone reimbursements. Jassy has described this period as a “time to rethink everything we’ve ever done.”
Retail Pivot
Alongside the workforce reduction, Amazon is shifting its physical retail strategy:
- Closures: Roughly 70 Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go grocery stores will shut down.
- Expansion: The company will instead focus on expanding its Whole Foods Market business.
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