Amazon staff rattled after premature email hints at fresh layoffs

Amazon employees were left unsettled on Tuesday after an internal email referencing “organizational changes” and “impacted colleagues” was sent prematurely, fueling concerns that another round of corporate layoffs is imminent.

The message, which appears to have been recalled shortly after being sent, comes as the company prepares to report fourth-quarter earnings next month and continues to reshape its workforce amid cost-cutting and a broader push to streamline management.

Premature email sparks internal concern

The email was sent by Colleen Aubrey, senior vice president of applied AI solutions at Amazon’s cloud unit, Amazon Web Services, and was viewed by both CNBC and Bloomberg.

The note acknowledged “organizational changes” and said that “impacted colleagues” had been notified, referencing a separate post from Amazon’s human resources chief, Beth Galetti, that does not appear to have been send.

“Changes like this are hard on everyone,” Aubrey wrote. “These decisions are difficult and are made thoughtfully as we position our organization and AWS for future success.”

The subject line of the email referred to “Project Dawn,” and Bloomberg reported that it included a meeting invite for Wednesday morning that was later canceled.

The email also stated that affected employees were based in the United States, Canada, and Costa Rica.

It remains unclear what “Project Dawn” refers to.

The message quickly circulated on internal message boards and social media platforms such as Reddit, where employees shared speculation about the scope and timing of potential job cuts.

Layoffs expected as restructuring continues

The premature email aligns with expectations that Amazon is preparing to announce widespread layoffs across its corporate workforce as soon as this week, according to a person familiar with the matter who previously spoke to CNBC.

Amazon’s cloud computing and retail stores units are among the divisions expected to be affected.

The anticipated cuts follow a major restructuring announced in October, when Amazon said it would lay off 14,000 corporate employees.

At the time, the company warned that reductions would continue into 2026 as it identified “additional places we can remove layers.”

Chief executive Andy Jassy has framed the layoffs as part of a broader effort to reduce bureaucracy and management layers across the company.

He also said last June that efficiency gains driven by artificial intelligence would likely shrink Amazon’s corporate workforce over the coming years.

Those comments have taken on renewed significance as AI becomes increasingly central to Amazon’s strategy, particularly within AWS, even as the company looks to rein in costs.

Grocery overhaul adds to employee uncertainty

The workforce concerns emerged on the same day Amazon announced a reorganization of its grocery business.

The company said it plans to shutter its Fresh supermarkets and Go convenience marts, shifting its focus toward Whole Foods stores and online grocery delivery.

In a memo to staff, Amazon’s top grocery executive, Jason Buechel, said the company needs to make more “deliberate choices” to better compete for customers.

He also outlined additional restructuring steps, including plans to appoint a new “grocery quality” leadership role.

Together, the grocery overhaul and the apparent misfire around “Project Dawn” underscore the scale of change underway at Amazon as it enters 2026.

While management has emphasized thoughtful decision-making and long-term positioning, the premature email has heightened anxiety among employees already bracing for further job cuts.

Amazon is scheduled to report fourth-quarter earnings after the bell on Feb. 5.

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