It’s Friday, January 23, 2026, and if you’re a corporate employee at Amazon, this weekend is looking incredibly tense. After months of rumors, reports are coming in that a second massive wave of layoffs is hitting as early as next Tuesday.
The thing is, we’re looking at another 14,000 pink slips, bringing the total cull to roughly 30,000 corporate roles. Or nothing.
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The Amazon “Right-Sizing”: Field Notes
It’s an ongoing situation where the “Year of Efficiency” has turned into a multi-year restructuring. Here’s the ground reality of what’s happening in Seattle and beyond:
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The Monday Deadline: Remember the 14,000 people who were let go in October? Their 90-day “transitional” period on the payroll expires this Monday, January 26. And here’s the kicker—the next round is expected to start the very next day, Tuesday, January 27. Those too.
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The Target Zones: It’s not just one department. We’re hearing that AWS (Cloud), Prime Video, Retail, and HR (PXT) are the primary targets. The thing is, AWS used to be the “untouchable” cash cow, but even cloud growth is being streamlined now.
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The “Bureaucracy” Defense: CEO Andy Jassy has been very specific lately. He’s telling analysts this isn’t about AI taking jobs or a financial crisis. Instead, he’s calling it a “culture” fix. Let’s be real—he’s basically saying the company got too bloated with “managers of managers” and needs to get back to its startup roots. Or nothing.
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The Scale: 30,000 sounds like a lot, but it’s barely 2% of Amazon’s total 1.58 million workforce. But—and here’s the kicker—it’s 10% of the corporate office. If you’re in a warehouse, you’re safe. If you have an office in Seattle or Arlington? Different story.
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Amazon Layoff Breakdown: 2026 Phase
| Category | Data / Status | The “Ground” Reality |
| Projected Cuts | 14,000 (Next Week) | Total target is 30,000 corporate roles. |
| Key Dates | Jan 27 (Tuesday) | Expected start date for the new notifications. |
| Total Impact | ~10% of Corporate | Primarily middle management and overhead. |
| CEO Justification | “Cultural/Bureaucracy” | Jassy wants a higher “individual contributor” ratio. |
| Support Package | 90-day Payroll + Support | Same “soft landing” protocol as the October round. |
And Here’s the Kicker…
The thing is, Amazon is simultaneously planning to spend over 100 billion on AI and data centers this year. Let’s be real—they’re trading human “coordinators” for automated “efficiency.” Jassy’s “Bureaucracy Mailbox” (where employees report red tape) has already led to 450 process changes. It’s an ongoing situation where the “manager” is becoming an endangered species at Amazon. Those too.
One side comment—investors are actually loving this. The stock is up because the “leaner” model means better margins. But inside the “Spheres” in Seattle? The mood is likely anything but celebratory. Or nothing.
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End…
