By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – Amazon on Thursday announced latest round of layoffs with up to 250 positions affected in a restructuring that coincides with the launch of new Alexa-powered products.
Employees received early-morning emails and text messages about the restructuring, which followed an internal organizational review.
Amazon is due to report third-quarter earnings on October 29.
The reductions, concentrated largely in software development, add to a succession of workforce changes at the US technology giant.
They also underscored Amazon’s continuing effort to reduce staffing in selected operations while pursuing new products and investments.
The timing is significant. Amazon introduced new Kindle e-readers and tablet computers in recent weeks, followed by an Alexa-enabled alarm clock and digital photo frame on Wednesday.
The launch activity has not prevented further reductions within the business responsible for its consumer devices.
The company has linked the decision to operational efficiency and product priorities rather than announcing a withdrawal from any particular device category.
The latest round affected no more than 250 positions, most of them in software development, Reuters reported, citing a person familiar with the matter.
Amazon acknowledged the reductions after questions from the news agency but did not disclose an official headcount.
Affected employees were informed early Wednesday through electronic messages.
Media reports also cited an internal communication from Cherie Robinson, a human resources vice president in the division, indicated that an organizational assessment preceded the decision.
The company has not disclosed which individual product teams experienced the largest reductions.
The devices division is not the only Amazon business to face workforce reductions this month.
Its Stores operation, which manages important parts of the company’s online retail business, eliminated fewer than 1,000 corporate positions earlier in October, media reported.
The latest developments follow a much larger restructuring announced in January.
Amazon said 16,000 positions would be affected across the organization.
On January statement, Amazon outlined plans to reduce managerial layers and simplify its operations.
The company also said recruitment would continue in areas central to its future plans.
The contrast between selective job cuts and continued investment has therefore become a recurring feature of Amazon’s organizational changes.
Investors will turn to Amazon’s third-quarter financial results, scheduled for Thursday, after the close of US stock markets.
The earnings announcement may provide further insight into investment priorities and expenditure across the business.
Amazon has not said whether additional reductions are planned within its consumer devices division.
