Amazon CEO Confirms Layoffs Will Surpass 18,000 After Number Leaked By “One Of Our Teammates”

deadline.com:

Amazon CEO Andy Jaffy said Wednesday that the company’s recent review will result in the elimination of more than 18,000 jobs, a confirmation came soon after a report earlier in the day in the Wall Street Journal cited the total number of employees impacted by staff reductions that began back in November. “We typically wait to communicate about these outcomes until we can speak with the people who are directly impacted.

However, because one of our teammates leaked this information externally, we decided it was better to share this news earlier so you can hear the details directly from me,” Jaffy wrote in a company blog post this evening. “We intend on communicating with impacted employees (or where applicable in Europe, with employee representative bodies) starting on January 18.” Back in November, cuts came across Amazon’s Devices and Books businesses, along with voluntary reduction offers for some in the company’s People, Experience, and Technology (PXT) divisions.

Jaffey wrote today that several additional teams will be impacted with the latest cuts this month, with “the majority of role eliminations are in our Amazon Stores and PXT organizations.” “S-team and I are deeply aware that these role eliminations are difficult for people, and we don’t take these decisions lightly or underestimate how much they might affect the lives of those who are impacted,” he wrote. “We are working to support those who are affected and are providing packages that include a separation payment, transitional health insurance benefits, and external job placement support.” Read his full blog post below.

The news comes on a day when one investor raised the notion that Amazon founder Jeff Bezos could return to run the company, which along