More than 4,500 Google employees have signed a petition urging Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai to introduce stronger protections against layoffs, as the company continues to invest heavily in artificial intelligence while reducing parts of its workforce.
According to The Guardian, the petition was delivered to Pichai's office at Google's headquarters in California on Thursday by members of the Alphabet Workers Union. Employees are calling for guaranteed severance, voluntary buyout options before compulsory layoffs and changes to the company's performance evaluation system.
Workers seek stronger safeguards
The petition, led by the Alphabet Workers Union, describes itself as the largest employee feedback initiative at Google focused on job security.
Among the key demands are:
- Guaranteed severance packages for affected employees.
- Voluntary buyout options before mandatory layoffs across all product areas.
- The option to receive severance as extended paid leave.
- An end to performance ratings employees say rely on quotas rather than merit.
According to The Guardian, workers delivered the petition to Pichai's office, where a staff member accepted it and said it would be passed on to the CEO.
Parul Koul, software engineer at Google and president of the Alphabet Workers Union, said the company continues to perform strongly financially despite workforce reductions.
Koul pointed to Google's $4 trillion market valuation, which she said has quadrupled over the past six years, while criticising continued job cuts.
Google did not immediately respond to The Guardian's request for comment.
AI investment coincides with workforce changes
The employee campaign comes as Google continues expanding its AI strategy.
According to Business Insider, Google Cloud laid off some employees around two months ago. Separately, CNBC previously reported the company eliminated more than one-third of managers overseeing smaller teams last year.
During Alphabet's latest earnings call, Chief Financial Officer Anat Ashkenazi described AI as a key investment priority, saying the company plans to continue hiring while increasing spending to support its AI ambitions.
Google has not said AI directly caused recent layoffs. However, Demis Hassabis, Chief Executive Officer of Google DeepMind, previously told Wired that companies attempting to replace software developers with AI demonstrate "a lack of imagination."
Silicon Valley workers voice wider concerns
The petition reflects broader concerns across the technology sector as companies accelerate AI investments while reshaping their workforces.
Recent developments include:
- Meta is facing a lawsuit from dozens of employees who allege AI tools were used to identify workers for layoffs after they requested protected leave or disability accommodations. Meta has denied the allegations, saying the claims lack merit.
- Oracle disclosed in its latest annual report that wider AI adoption could continue to reduce its workforce after cutting around 21,000 jobs over the past year.
- Block reduced its workforce by roughly 4,000 employees earlier this year, with Chief Executive Officer Jack Dorsey citing efficiency gains from AI.
- Microsoft recently announced plans to eliminate around 4,800 jobs, representing about 2.1% of its workforce, as it increases investment in AI.
Employees seek greater certainty
The latest petition builds on previous organising efforts by the Alphabet Workers Union. According to The Guardian, the union previously secured voluntary exit packages covering more than 70,000 employees but says concerns around job security remain unresolved.
Several Google employees also voiced concerns about AI's growing role in daily work and its potential impact on future employment.
The petition underscores a wider debate unfolding across the technology industry, where companies continue to balance large-scale AI investment with workforce restructuring. As AI becomes central to business strategy, employees are increasingly seeking clearer commitments on how organisational change will affect jobs.