Google has implemented a significant reduction, decreasing the number of managers supervising small teams by more than a third as part of its strategy to enhance operations and minimise bureaucracy while still making substantial investments in artificial intelligence.
This revelation was shared with employees during a recent all-hands meeting, as reported by CNBC. Brian Welle, the vice president of people analytics and performance at Google, informed staff that there is now “35% fewer managers, with fewer direct reports” compared to the same time last year. This reduction predominantly impacts managers responsible for fewer than three employees, many of whom have shifted back into individual contributor roles instead of departing from the company.
Welle emphasised that the objective is to ensure that leadership roles comprise a smaller fraction of Google’s workforce over time, enabling the organisation to function with enhanced agility. “When we look across our entire leadership population, that’s managers, directors and VPs, we want them to be a smaller percentage of our overall workforce,” he stated.
Sundar Pichai, the chief executive, also communicated with the staff during the meeting, reiterating the necessity of a streamlined management approach. “We have to be more efficient as we scale up so we don’t solve everything with headcount,” he noted, underscoring the importance of fostering innovation without superfluous layers of hierarchy.
These managerial reductions occur amidst a backdrop of consistent job cuts within Alphabet over the past two years. Google executed its largest layoff in January 2023, eliminating around 12,000 positions, which amounts to 6% of its global workforce. Following that, further restructuring of teams across various divisions has continued, with additional cuts reported in Google Cloud, the Platforms and Devices unit, and the Global Business Organisation throughout 2025.
To alleviate the repercussions of ongoing reductions, Google has introduced voluntary exit programmes (VEPs) across several product areas, including search, marketing, hardware, and people operations. Fiona Cicconi, the chief people officer, informed the employees that between 3% and 5% of personnel in these sectors have chosen buyouts, with many expressing a desire for a career break or time for family caregiving.
Pichai mentioned that the scheme was launched following feedback from employees who favoured buyouts over widespread layoffs. “It gives people agency, and I’m pleased to see it’s gone well,” he remarked.
