Google Cuts a Third of Small-Team Managers to Streamline Leadership, Boost AI-Driven Productivity
Google has laid off more than a third of its managers overseeing teams with fewer than three direct reports, as part of its push to simplify its management structure. The move, revealed during an all-hands meeting, reflects the company’s broader effort to cut bureaucracy, improve efficiency, and maintain a leaner leadership model.
Brian Welle, Google’s Vice President of People Analytics and Performance, explained that the long-term goal is to ensure managers, directors, and VPs make up a smaller share of the overall workforce. Importantly, many affected managers were not let go entirely; instead, they transitioned into individual contributor roles, allowing them to continue applying their expertise while reducing layers of hierarchy.
The restructuring aligns with CEO Sundar Pichai’s vision of scaling Google without significantly increasing headcount. Instead, the company is focused on driving higher productivity and leveraging artificial intelligence to achieve more with fewer resources.
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