Former Amazon employees speak out on layoffs

KIRO 7 News

108,994 views • 3 days ago

Video Summary

Amazon has announced significant corporate job cuts, impacting 14,000 employees. This decision comes as the company plans to continue hiring into the next year, creating a mixed message for its workforce. One affected employee, who recently relocated for the position, expressed disbelief and uncertainty about her future, highlighting the personal toll of these layoffs. Neighboring businesses also voice concerns about the impact on their customer base.

The company's communication strategy is also under scrutiny, with some employees reportedly learning about the layoffs through news reports before official notification. This has led to calls for Amazon to reconsider its long-term strategy and the effects of such widespread job losses. The lingering question remains whether these 14,000 cuts are the extent of the reductions or if more are anticipated.

Short Highlights

Amazon is cutting 14,000 corporate jobs.
The company plans to continue hiring into next year.
An employee who moved for the job expressed disbelief and uncertainty about her future.
Neighboring businesses are concerned about the impact on their customer base.
Some employees reportedly found out about the layoffs through news reports before official notification.

Key Details

Amazon Corporate Job Cuts Announced [00:00]

Amazon is implementing significant corporate job cuts, affecting 14,000 employees.
Despite these layoffs, the company intends to continue hiring into the following year.
An employee shared her experience of being laid off, expressing disbelief and uncertainty about her next steps, especially after relocating for the job just six months prior.
She is now contemplating whether to stay in Seattle or move to find new employment, highlighting her isolation and recent efforts to build a community.

"I don't know what happens now. Um just kind of in disbelief."

Impact on Employees and Businesses [01:17]

The frustration extends beyond Amazon employees, with neighboring businesses outside the Amazon spheres also expressing discontent.
Businesses rely on the Amazon customer base and worry about the difficulty of rebuilding elsewhere if that base diminishes.
Reports suggest some impacted employees learned about the layoffs through news outlets before official company communication.

"I really wish they'd stopped doing this cuz it is like, oh, it's going up up up up up. Oh, back down."

Re-evaluation and Future Outlook [01:48]

A message to Amazon urges them to re-evaluate and consider the long-term impacts of these job losses.
The core question remains whether these 14,000 layoffs are the final wave or if more reductions are forthcoming.
Amazon has been approached for answers regarding future layoff plans.