Amazon Employee Says Termination Email Came At 5 AM; Here's How Internet Reacts

The layoffs come as part of a broader pattern of targeted job reductions across various Amazon units in recent months, including teams focused on Alexa, Wondery podcasts, retail stores, and more

Despite the cuts, Amazon has seen overall workforce growth

Source : Amazon

Amazon has laid off approximately 100 employees from its Devices and Services division, which develops products such as Kindle e-readers, Echo smart speakers, the Alexa voice assistant, and Zoox autonomous vehicles. The company confirmed the job cuts in a statement released on Wednesday, describing them as a “small part” of the broader team.

Kristy Schmidt, an Amazon spokesperson, said the layoffs were aimed at streamlining operations and aligning the team more closely with the company’s future product roadmap. These decisions are never made lightly, she said, adding that Amazon is committed to supporting affected employees during the transition.

The layoffs come as part of a broader pattern of targeted job reductions across various Amazon units in recent months, including teams focused on Alexa, Wondery podcasts, retail stores, and corporate communications. In 2023, Amazon also trimmed roles within the Alexa division, according to Reuters.

Amid the recent layoffs, a social media post by a former employee drew attention online. The ex-staffer, who identified as an L6 Software Development Manager at Alexa, claimed he was notified of his termination via email at 5 am after three years with the company in Seattle. His post read: “Amazon Layoffs: Email at 5 AM,I was just notified via email that my role was eliminated at Amazon. I’m a SDM L6 in Alexa with 3 years in Seattle.”

Despite the cuts, Amazon has seen overall workforce growth. The company added approximately 4,000 employees between Q4 2023 and Q1 2024, according to its latest earnings report.

Internet Reacts

The internet responded to this post almost immediately. One of the internet users wrote, “If you ever plan to return to Amazon within next 1 year, do not take severance. It bans you for 1 year or 2. Instead if you do not get new job in next 2 months and you resign instead of severance, you can continue looking inside and outside Amazon for next job.”

Added a second X user, “Sorry to hear it - but now go and enjoy life outside this toxic hell hole. Focus on getting a role at a place that rewards employees based on merit and contribution, not subjective horseshit and a pre-determined comp distribution that managers actually have little to no control over.”