In the past year, the tech industry, once a pillar of stability and growth, has been rocked by waves of layoffs that have sent shockwaves through offices and reduced wages across the sector. As companies like Google continue to navigate their shifting financial landscapes, employees are increasingly vocal about the need for fair treatment and transparency, especially when it comes to layoffs and performance reviews.

Google’s Struggling Employees Speak Out

After another round of layoffs seemed imminent following annual performance reviews, over 1,300 employees signed a petition organized by the Alphabet Workers Union (AWU), calling for immediate changes to the company’s policies. The petition, which gained significant attention, called for guaranteed severance for laid-off employees, a voluntary layoff program backed by severance packages, and the end of Google’s performance review system, which many employees felt was being used as a tool to justify mass layoffs.

The employees expressed that ongoing layoffs have created an atmosphere of fear and insecurity. The petition read: “Ongoing rounds of layoffs make us feel insecure about our jobs. The company is clearly in a strong financial position, making the loss of so many valuable colleagues without explanation hurt even more.”

Google Responds to Employee Demands

In an unexpected turn of events, Google responded to the petition by announcing a “voluntary exit program” for U.S. employees in its Platforms and Devices group, which includes teams responsible for products like Pixel, Android, and Nest. The offer, which reportedly includes a severance package, was seen as a win by the AWU, but the union continued to push for more substantial, long-term changes.

Alan McAvinney, a Google software engineer and AWU union organizing chair, stated, “We are happy to see material progress in response to our concerns, but we continue to demand that Google commit to practices like offers of voluntary buyouts and fair terms of severance by codifying them in its actual written policies.”

While the voluntary exit offer may seem like a positive step, the AWU insists that a one-time offer does not resolve the underlying issues. Employees are seeking more permanent and equitable policies that protect their job security and guarantee fair compensation during times of uncertainty.

AI, Outsourcing, and the Pressure on Employees

The timing of these employee demands is crucial. Despite slowing layoffs, Google’s AI investments are on the rise, with the company shifting its focus to artificial intelligence at an accelerated pace. In January of last year, Google reorganized its hardware teams, resulting in several hundred layoffs. A few months later, the company merged its Android team with its newly restructured hardware teams to focus on integrating AI into its products more rapidly.

Google’s SVP Rick Osterloh explained to The Verge, “By combining teams, Google can now move much faster to integrate AI across all of its products.” The company’s focus on AI has certainly paid off, with Google posting a 15 percent revenue gain in the third quarter of 2023, resulting in a profit of $26.3 billion. However, this growth has come at the cost of employees.

Many Google workers feel the brunt of this rapid transformation. As the company pushes forward with AI projects, full-time employees often see their workloads increase, with fewer guarantees about job stability. On the other hand, contract workers who assist with Google’s AI projects are paid significantly less, and they lack benefits and union protection.

A Call for Lasting Change

As Google continues to invest heavily in AI while simultaneously shifting costs to outsourced labor, employees are calling for more than just short-term fixes like voluntary exit programs. They want lasting, meaningful changes to the company’s approach to layoffs, severance, and worker treatment.

Despite the company’s massive profits, employees are being asked to shoulder more responsibilities with less security. For many, the current situation has become untenable, and they are demanding policies that ensure fair treatment for all workers, not just a select few who can afford to take voluntary buyouts.

In the face of growing discontent and increased financial pressure, Google must decide whether to heed its workers’ demands for fairer, more transparent policies—or continue down a path that risks further alienating its workforce in pursuit of AI-driven profits. The future of Google’s workforce may depend on how the company chooses to navigate this critical moment.