Google is giving some US employees a voluntary exit option
Its Google’s new way to address employee dissatisfaction regarding how layoffs were handled in the past.

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Last year, Google made a groundbreaking move by introducing an internal reorganization under CEO Sundar Pichai. This overhaul consolidated the company’s hardware and software efforts into a single division called Platforms and Devices.
This division now oversees all of Google’s product lines, including hardware like Pixel, Nest, and Fitbit and software platforms like Android, Chrome, and ChromeOS.
This restructuring aims to foster “full-stack innovation,” enabling tighter collaboration and more streamlined product development across Google’s ecosystem.
In a surprising twist, Google recently announced a “voluntary exit program” for its US-based employees working in this division, a move first reported by 9to5Google.
Google offers a voluntary exit program to its employees
The program offers severance packages to employees ready to leave, particularly those who may not align with the division’s new direction or find Google’s hybrid work policies challenging.
Rick Osterloh, Google’s Senior Vice President, sent a memo introducing this initiative to the Android, Pixel, and Chrome teams.
The offer is positioned as an opportunity for employees to opt out of the organization if they are not fully committed to its revamped mission.
Osterloh emphasized the importance of unity and focus within the Platforms and Devices division, urging teams to accelerate product innovation and development.
The voluntary exit program, however, has sparked speculation about potential future layoffs, as such buyouts are sometimes a precursor to workforce reductions if uptake is low.
The program specifically targets the Platforms & Devices division, which manages hardware and software projects, while other teams, such as Search and AI, are not included.
This initiative also reflects Google’s effort to address employee dissatisfaction regarding how layoffs were handled in the past.
Employees had recently petitioned for voluntary buyouts as an alternative to forced cuts, and this program appears to be a response to those concerns.
The memo acknowledged that not all employees share the same vision for the division’s goals, presenting this program as a way for those individuals to leave on their own terms.
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