Google Layoffs: ‘Few hundred roles’ on ad sales team being cut

Google is continuing to scale back its staffing levels — this time trimming the size of its advertising sales division.

The update comes just days after the tech giant cut hundreds of jobs across its Voice Assistant, hardware, and engineering teams.

What’s happening at Google?

Google spokesperson Chris Pappas told The Verge in a statement that “a few hundred roles globally are being eliminated.”

“Every year, we go through a rigorous process to structure our team to provide the best service to our [ads] customers,” Pappas said.

He added that affected ad sales staff will be able to “apply for open roles or elsewhere at Google.”

The latest round of layoffs was first reported by Business Insider, which obtained a memo from senior vice-president Philipp Schindler.

In the memo, Schindler reportedly hinted that the reduction will primarily affect the tech giant’s Large Customer Sales unit, which sells ads to large businesses.

The company’s Customer Solutions unit, which sells ads to smaller clients, is expected to become the “core” team.

As of September 2023, Google’s parent company Alphabet had more than 182,000 workers.

SEE ALSO
• Report: Google could cut lots of jobs in ad sales unit amid AI success
• Google laying off hundreds of employees in global recruiting division
• Canadians affected as Google parent Alphabet cuts 12,000 jobs

Google layoffs in Canada

It remains unclear if Canadian employees are affected by the latest round of job cuts at Google.

According to the company’s LinkedIn page, it has more than 3,700 workers in the country.

Termination agreements for Google Canada staff

In Canada, non-unionized employees at Google are owed full severance pay when they lose their jobs due to downsizing, corporate restructuring, or the closure of the business.

This includes individuals working full-time, part-time, or hourly in Ontario, Alberta, and B.C.

People working “on contract” or as a contractor may also be owed severance pay — given that many employees in Canada are often misclassified as independent contractors.

Severance can be as much as 24 months’ pay, depending on a number of factors.

WATCH: Employment lawyer Lior Samfiru explains what rights employees have if they are being fired or let go on an episode of the Employment Law Show.

Before you accept any severance offer, have an experienced employment lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP review it and your employment contract.

If you don’t receive the correct amount, which happens often, you have been wrongfully dismissed and should take legal action.

Non-unionized employees in Canada have up to two years from the date of their dismissal to pursue proper severance pay.

LEARN MORE
• Severance for provincially regulated employees
• Rights to severance for tech sector staff
• Severance packages during mass layoffs

Major tech layoffs continue

Google isn’t the only tech company that is reducing its workforce in 2024.

Other notable employers, including Instagram, BenchSci, Discord, Amazon, Twitch, Unity, and Xerox, have also pulled out the axe as they continue to navigate challenging economic conditions.

SEE ALSO
• Firm launches $130M class action against Shopify for breach of contract
• Citigroup to slash 20,000 jobs over the ‘medium-term’
• Where are layoffs happening in Canada?

Lost your job? Talk to an employment lawyer

If you have been fired or let go for any reason, contact the experienced employment law team at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP.

Our lawyers in Ontario, Alberta, and B.C. have successfully represented tens of thousands of non-unionized individuals.

In addition to severance package negotiations, we can assist you on a broad range of employment matters, including:

If you are a non-unionized employee who needs help with a workplace issue, contact us or call 1-855-821-5900 to get the advice you need and the compensation you deserve.