The teams responsible for the development of the Android operating system and Pixel devices were merged into one Platforms & Devices division in April 2024. The new division is responsible for the development of Android for cars, TV, accessories and augmented reality, Chrome, ChromeOS, Google Photos, Google One, Pixel smartphones, Fitbit accessories, and Nest smart home devices.
Despite the fact that this division includes people from all over the world, the company offers voluntary resignation only to employees in the United States. This became known from a letter to employees from the company's senior vice president, Rick Osterloh.
Osterlo notes that after the teams were merged and employees had a better understanding of their roles in the new unit, managers began to receive requests for voluntary resignations. At the same time, this initiative is explained by the fact that during previous downsizing, the company's management faced complaints about the lack of such an option.
The letter to employees states that the voluntary resignation program will be useful for those who do not share the goals of the combined team or have difficulty fulfilling their role and adapting to the hybrid work format. In case of voluntary resignation, Google will provide severance pay, although the details of this compensation have not yet been disclosed.
"The Platforms & Devices team is offering a voluntary exit program that provides US-based Googlers working on this team the ability to voluntarily leave the company with a severance package. This comes after we brought two large organizations together last year. There’s tremendous momentum on this team and with so much important work ahead, we want everyone to be deeply committed to our mission and focused on building great products, with speed and efficiency," said a Google spokesperson in a comment to the media.