Amazon has announced its intention to cut 16,000 jobs globally. Although the specific locations of the layoffs have not been disclosed, reports suggest that the impact on the UK may be minimal. Roles in Amazon Web Services, retail, Prime Video, and human resources are expected to be among those affected.

This decision follows a previous round of layoffs in October last year when the company, led by billionaire Jeff Bezos, announced 14,000 job cuts. In a message to employees, Beth Galetti, Amazon’s senior vice president of people experience and technology, acknowledged the challenging nature of the news and assured that support would be provided to those affected.

Affected U.S. employees will have 90 days to seek internal job opportunities or receive severance packages. Galetti emphasized that while the company is reducing roles, it remains committed to hiring and investing in key areas essential for its future growth.

Amazon’s communication about the layoffs seemed premature, with an email and meeting invitation sent out to employees in its Web Services division ahead of schedule. The email, signed by Colleen Aubrey, wrongly indicated that impacted employees in the U.S., Canada, and Costa Rica had already been informed of their job losses. Subsequently, the scheduled meeting was promptly canceled according to messages received by AWS employees.

The company assured that the recent layoffs do not mark the beginning of a recurring pattern, emphasizing the need to continuously assess and adapt to evolving customer needs in a rapidly changing world.