Amazon trimming ‘Buy with Prime’ unit amid sweeping layoffs

Amazon continues to scale back its staffing levels — this time reducing the size of its “Buy with Prime” unit.

The update comes as the e-commerce giant eliminates hundreds of jobs in its Prime Video and MGM Studios division.

What’s happening at Amazon?

In a statement to CNBC, an Amazon spokesperson said the company is laying off less than five per cent of its Buy with Prime workforce.

“We regularly review the structure of our teams and make adjustments based on the needs of the business and, following a recent review, we’ve made the difficult decision to eliminate a small number of roles on our Buy with Prime team,” the statement reads.

The spokesperson added that the e-commerce giant plans to continue investing “significant resources” in the shipping program, which remains a “top priority.”

Amazon is reportedly helping affected staff find new roles at the company.

SEE ALSO
• Amazon’s Twitch cutting 500 jobs to ‘rightsize’ the business
• Amazon cuts 180 jobs in gaming division, part of broader restructuring
• Amazon trimming Music division after several rounds of layoffs

Impact on Canadian staff

It remains unclear if any Canadians on Amazon’s Buy with Prime team have been let go.

According to the company’s LinkedIn page, it employs more than 17,000 people across the country.

Termination agreements for Amazon employees

In Canada, non-unionized employees at Amazon 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

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

Other notable employers, including YouTube, Google, Instagram, BenchSci, Discord, 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.