Google Expands Voluntary Buyouts to Employees in Five More Countries
Google offered voluntary exit packages to some employees in Canada, France, Germany, Japan and Switzerland as it shifts resources toward AI and cloud computing.
Google has expanded voluntary employee buyouts to five more countries, offering exit packages to some workers in Canada, France, Germany, Japan and Switzerland.
The offers began in June, extending a program introduced in some U.S. and British divisions in 2025. The number of employees who accepted the latest packages has not been disclosed.
"In 2025, some of our teams introduced a voluntary exit program with severance," a Google spokesperson said. "This past summer, in June, we expanded this program globally in a few countries to support our important work ahead."
The buyouts come as Google directs more resources toward artificial intelligence and cloud computing. Employees in Google Cloud and DeepMind, its AI research unit, were excluded from earlier rounds of offers.
The voluntary departures do not amount to an overall reduction in Alphabet's workforce. Its headcount reached 204,757 at the end of September, up about 10,000 over six months, with hiring and the acquisition of Israeli cybersecurity company Wiz contributing to the increase.
The newly reported expansion shows Google reshaping parts of its workforce while continuing to hire in priority areas. No total participation figure or savings estimate for the latest offers has been announced.