Google has begun offering voluntary exit packages to staff at its UK locations, the company confirmed. An internal message circulated to employees this week inviting eligible workers to apply for the voluntary buyout, according to two people with knowledge of the matter and a Google spokesperson.
Details remain limited: Google has not disclosed which UK teams were included or how many employees were offered packages. The spokesperson said the programme mirrors voluntary exit schemes introduced earlier this year for some U.S. groups and is intended to “support our important work ahead.”
Google emphasized its continued commitment to the UK market and said it remains actively recruiting for “critical roles and important projects” tied to company priorities, particularly those related to artificial intelligence. The size of any individual severance offer will vary depending on how long an employee has been with the company, staff were told.
The move fits a wider pattern among major technology firms this year as companies reshape their workforces to streamline management, drive efficiency, and focus on AI-related initiatives. Firms including Amazon, Meta and Microsoft have cut roles or offered buyouts in different divisions; Microsoft, for example, has previously offered voluntary exit payments to some employees.
Google has run similar voluntary-exit programmes across parts of its U.S. operations in 2025, covering units such as Android and Core engineering, with internal communications frequently framed around a refocus on AI. In October, YouTube chief executive Neal Mohan announced a voluntary-exit option for YouTube staff as part of a restructuring that leaned into AI priorities.
Google reports employing more than 7,000 people in the UK. Company representatives did not provide further comment on the scope of the UK offer when contacted.
