Tech Workforce Overhaul: Google Might Restructure Hyderabad, Bengaluru Offices Amid Global Layoffs

Sources familiar with the matter told Business Standard that Google is planning significant changes at its Hyderabad and Bengaluru offices. These developments come in the wake of the tech giant's latest wave of global layoffs under its parent company, Alphabet.

According to a report by The Information, Alphabet has laid off hundreds of employees from its Platforms and Devices division that are responsible for managing key products such as Android, Pixel smartphones, and the Chrome browser.

Sources informed Business Standard that employees in India, particularly from the advertising, sales, and marketing departments, may be affected in the upcoming round of layoffs, which are expected to begin as early as next month.

"A lot of the roles in India are by and large safe," said a person with knowledge of the company's internal plans to Business Standard. "Some countries and regions such as the US, the EU, and the UK, where there are a number of overstaffed divisions, may see the majority of these jobs go away."

This layoff round follows Google's earlier move in January 2025, when it offered voluntary exit packages to employees in the same business unit as part of a broader internal restructuring initiative.

A Google spokesperson confirmed the ongoing efforts to streamline operations, "Since combining the Platforms and Devices teams last year, we've focused on becoming more nimble and operating more effectively, and this included making some job reductions in addition to the voluntary exit programme that we offered in January."

Even though Indian tech professionals may be spared the immediate impact, industry experts believe these layoffs could still have ripple effects across the sector. The uncertainty may prompt companies to revise hiring plans and potentially delay recruitment strategies.

It is worth noting that Google had already cut approximately 12,000 jobs in January 2023, around 6 per cent of its global workforce, as part of an earlier restructuring wave. These ongoing layoffs appear to be a continuation of that strategy, aimed at optimizing resources and focusing efforts on core product teams.

Other Tech Giants Brace For Workforce Reductions

Google is not the only tech major making workforce adjustments. Microsoft is reportedly preparing for another round of layoffs as early as May 2025. According to insiders, the company is evaluating ways to streamline middle management and increase its engineer-to-manager ratio, targeting a 10:1 balance in certain departments. Performance-based terminations may also rise, particularly among employees rated "Impact 80" or below.

Tech Layoffs Intensify: Meta Announces To Cut 3,600 Jobs Based On Performance, To Hire New Talent
In February, Meta eliminated roughly 5 per cent of its global workforce-around 4,000 employees-citing performance concerns.

Meanwhile, Amazon has announced plans to shut down all seven of its warehouses in Quebec over the next two months. This move will impact about 1,700 full-time workers in the greater Montreal area, along with an additional 250 temporary employees.

Together, these developments underscore a broader trend of consolidation and cost-cutting sweeping across the global tech industry as companies seek to operate with greater efficiency amid evolving market dynamics.