Amazon Layoffs and Global Workforce Strategies

A video depicting employees celebrating with dance at an Amazon office in India has ignited considerable debate online, with certain social media users in the United States connecting the footage to the company’s latest job cuts.

The clip garnered significant attention after being shared on X, where a user condemned Amazon’s international workforce approach, claiming the company was reducing American jobs while expanding its operations abroad. The post resulted in a variety of reactions, including criticism, speculation, and humour, transforming the video into a pivotal topic in broader discussions regarding offshoring and corporate restructuring.

Concerns Over Job Cuts

Amazon is laying off thousands of diligent, skilled workers in the US while offshoring labour, citing a focus on “top global talent.” The situation appears very different on the other side of the world, where there are no innovative developments and office celebrations seem disconnected from productivity. Some comments suggested that Amazon was declining due to the replacement of American talent with Indian employees.

Recent Layoff Announcements

This backlash follows Amazon’s announcement in January regarding plans to cut at least 16,000 roles worldwide as part of an ongoing effort to optimise operations. Chief People Officer Beth Galetti stated that the restructuring aimed to fortify the organisation by minimising layers, enhancing ownership, and eliminating bureaucracy. This action was preceded by approximately 14,000 job cuts that were finalised by the end of 2025.

While layoffs were implemented across the globe, a notable number impacted positions in the US. A regulatory filing confirmed that Amazon would lay off 2,198 employees in Washington during this latest phase of workforce reductions, as reported by the Washington State Employment Security Department.

Reactions to the Viral Video

As the dancing video spread, some individuals framed it as proof of a strategic shift towards lower-cost labour markets, expressing concerns about the company’s employment practices and, in some instances, initiating boycotts of Amazon services. Others made fun of the scene on social media, drawing accusations of stereotyping and spreading misinformation.

Global Workforce Reductions

However, the workforce cuts are not exclusive to the US. Hundreds of employees in Amazon’s Indian operations were also impacted during the restructuring process, indicating that the reductions are part of a much larger global cost-realignment instead of being concentrated in one region.

This incident underscores how viral moments in the workplace—often divorced from their original context—can intertwine with broader fears regarding automation, globalisation, and the future of employment in the technology sector.