Google Layoffs: What’s Happening, Who’s Affected & Severance Rights in Canada

Google is offering voluntary severance packages to employees in its Global Business Organization (GBO) unit.

“We’re starting [2026] in a strong position thanks to everything you accomplished in 2025,” Philipp Schindler, the tech giant’s chief business officer, said in a memo to staff on Feb. 10, 2026. (Business Insider)

“But the game is dynamic, the pace is electric, and the stakes are high.”

The program applies to a variety of GBO teams, including solutions, sales, and corporate development.

This page explains:

• What’s happening at Google
• Whether a layoff at Google is permanent
• How much severance Google Canada employees may be owed
• What to do before signing a severance offer

Google Layoffs: A Timeline of Recent Job Cuts

Google’s latest buyout program comes after it cut more than 100 roles across its Cloud design and user experience teams and Oct. 1, 2025. Some impacted staff were given until early December to find a new internal role.

The company continues to scale back its headcount and redirect investment toward artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and operational efficiency.

Is a Google Layoff Temporary or Permanent?

For non-unionized Google employees, a layoff is almost always treated as a termination without cause, even if the following language is used:

• “Restructuring”
• “Reorganization”
• “Transformation”
• “Temporary layoff”

Unless your employment contract explicitly allows for Google to temporarily lay you off, the company can’t place you on indefinite layoff without terminating your employment — meaning they must provide full severance pay.

Severance Pay for Google Employees

In Canada, non-unionized employees, including those at Google, are often owed far more severance pay than what’s outlined in their initial offer.

Severance is based on common law entitlements, not just minimum standards. Factors include:

• Age
• Length of service
• Position and seniority
• Availability of comparable jobs

In many cases, Google employees in Canada can be owed up to 24 months of compensation.

Severance may include:

• Base salary
• Continued benefits
• Bonus and incentive compensation
• Stock, equity, or RRSP contributions (where applicable)
• Vacation pay
• Other earned compensation

First offers often:

• Cover only minimum entitlements
• Exclude bonuses or incentives
• Impose short signing deadlines
• Undervalue long-service or senior employees

Severance Offers: Common Problems

Canadian employees affected by layoffs frequently report issues such as:

• Severance offers far below legal entitlements
• Missing or unclear compensation breakdowns
• Benefits cut off too early
• Bonuses excluded without justification
• “Temporary layoff” language used improperly
• Pressure to sign within 24–48 hours

Wrongful Dismissal and Google Layoffs

A wrongful dismissal occurs when employers, including Google, fail to provide full severance required under common law.

You may have a claim if:

• Your severance offer is too low
• A termination clause isn’t enforceable
• You were pressured to accept your severance offer on the spot
• Bonuses or benefits were excluded from your severance package
• You were terminated while on medical, parental, or disability leave
• Salesforce labelled your termination a “temporary layoff” without contractual authority

Large-scale layoffs at Google don’t reduce their legal obligations in Canada.

Laid Off at Google? Next Steps

If you’ve been laid off at Google:

1. Don’t sign your severance offer immediately
2. Gather your employment contract, bonus plans, and benefits information
3. Use the Severance Pay Calculator to double-check your entitlements
4. Keep records of your role, compensation, and length of service
5. Speak with an employment lawyer before agreeing to anything

Google Layoffs: Frequently Asked Questions

How much severance can Google employees receive?

Up to 24 months — depending on age, service, and position.

Are Google layoffs permanent?

For non-unionized employees, yes. A layoff is typically a termination.

Does Google have to include bonuses in severance?

Often yes — especially if bonuses were a regular part of compensation.

Can Google terminate employees on leave?

This can raise serious wrongful dismissal and human rights issues.

Can employment lawyers represent unionized Google staff?

No. Unionized Google employees must go through their union.

Lost Your Job at Google? Get Help Now

If Google has laid you off, or offered a severance/buyout package, don’t do anything before seeking legal advice.

Samfiru Tumarkin LLP, one of Canada’s most reviewed employment law firms, has helped more than 50,000 Canadians secure the compensation they’re legally entitled to.

Disclaimer: The materials above are provided as general information about the rights of non-unionized employees in Canada. It is not specific to any one company and SHOULD NOT be read as suggesting any improper conduct on the part of any specific employer, or a relationship between Samfiru Tumarkin LLP and a specific employer.