Nearly 100 Google workers gathered near the company’s headquarters on Thursday, holding signs reading “Googlers for Job Security” and demanding stronger protections against layoffs.
The protest, organized by the Alphabet Workers Union, comes as tech companies have cut tens of thousands of jobs since 2022. Google laid off 12,000 employees in 2023 and has since conducted several smaller rounds, collectively affecting thousands.
“Google, Google, can’t you see? We deserve security,” the crowd chanted.
What Workers Are Demanding
The union delivered a petition to CEO Sundar Pichai and senior executives with more than 4,500 employee signatures.
The demands include:
Guaranteed severance for every laid-off worker, voluntary exit packages before mandatory cuts, an end to forced-distribution performance ratings, and severance as extended paid leave
“We want voluntary exits before layoffs, we want guaranteed severance standards, we want an end to performance quotas,” Parul Koul, a Google software engineer and union president, told the crowd.
A Shift in Workplace Culture
The protest captured a shift that has unsettled workers across the tech industry. Google’s workforce, known for pushing management on ethics and corporate policy, is now organizing around something more fundamental: job security.
“I see worried people, grateful to still have a job, do the best they can to keep it,” said Nobel Barakat, a Google software engineer. “I’ve seen people work longer and longer days with the hopes that they avoid a sudden poor performance rating.”
Matthew Hoffman, a Google DeepMind engineer, said he joined the protest to show his support, even though he had not been personally affected by layoffs. “Just because something hasn’t affected you personally doesn’t mean it won’t someday,” he said.
A History of Activism
Thursday’s protest drew on Google’s long history of employee activism. In 2018, more than 4,000 workers opposed a Pentagon contract. That year, roughly 20,000 employees walked out over sexual-misconduct allegations. In 2024, Google fired workers after sit-ins protesting its cloud-computing contract with Israel.
“We have the power to change things for ourselves,” Koul said. “The only thing preventing us is how organized we are.”
The Bottom Line
Nearly 100 Google workers protested near the company’s Mountain View headquarters, demanding stronger protections against layoffs. More than 4,500 employees signed a petition calling for guaranteed severance, voluntary exits, and an end to performance quotas. The protest reflects growing anxiety among tech workers over rolling layoffs and the impact of AI on their jobs. Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
