Google voluntary buyouts: What's the exit package?

Google has expanded its voluntary exit programme to employees in Canada, France, Germany, Japan, and Switzerland as the company seeks to control costs while boosting investments in artificial intelligence (AI). The program allows eligible employees to leave Google in exchange for a severance package, although the specific terms vary by country.

In Switzerland, accepted employees receive one month's salary for every year of service, capped at 12 months of salary. Google's parent company, Alphabet, has been redirecting resources towards AI and cloud computing, with the voluntary exit programme aimed at managing workforce and expenses amid heavy AI investments. Eligibility depends on division, role, and location, with some teams like Google Cloud and DeepMind excluded.

However, Google has not disclosed the total number of employees eligible for the programme or how many have accepted the offers. The initiative reflects broader workforce adjustments across the tech industry, with Microsoft recently offering voluntary buyouts to around 60,000 employees.