Google extends voluntary buyout offers to employees in several countries

Alphabet’s Google has extended its voluntary buyout offers to employees across Canada, France, Germany, Japan, and Switzerland in 2026 as it strives to control increasing expenses due to heavy investment in artificial intelligence. The tech giant shared with Reuters that it initiated such packages in June for select staff in the aforementioned countries, although the exact count of employees who have taken advantage of the offer remains undisclosed.

According to a Google spokesperson, "In 2025, some of our teams introduced a voluntary exit programme with severance. This past summer, in June, we expanded this programme globally in a few countries to support our important work ahead." The move is a response to the steep rise in AI expenses, which have adversely affected Alphabet's stock performance.

The addition of countries like Canada, France, Germany, Japan, and Switzerland follows a similar pattern of voluntary exit programmes previously offered to employees in the US and Britain since 2025. The company has deemed the programme an option for those who no longer feel aligned with Google's pace or direction. In certain instances, this has been accompanied by layoffs within the affected divisions.

Google's CFO, Anat Ashkenazi, has consistently emphasized AI and cloud computing as crucial areas for future hiring. Employees in Google Cloud and DeepMind, Google's AI division, were excluded from past buyout offers. The latest expansion in Switzerland, for example, covered multiple divisions but did not include DeepMind. Employees began leaving Google in August following the announcement, according to three individuals familiar with the situation.

Google introduced the voluntary exit packages in mid-June, and employees who applied had their responses returned by mid-July. Those who accepted the offer received one month's salary for each year of service, capped at 12 months. At least four employees in a team of around 50 reportedly accepted the offer in Switzerland. In 2023, Google had laid off over 200 employees in Switzerland, leading to staff protests and a walkout.