Top News

Amazon had an unexpected slip-up in its ongoing corporate restructuring this week when an internal email intended to inform employees about upcoming layoffs was sent prematurely to some staff at Amazon Web Services (AWS). The incident occurred just hours before Amazon planned to formally communicate the layoff decisions to affected employees.

Email Sent Too Early

On Tuesday, an email signed by Colleen Aubreysenior vice president of applied AI solutions at AWS, was mistakenly sent to AWS employees in the U.S., Canada and Costa Ricaalerting them that they had already been informed about job losses as part of the layoff plan scheduled for Wednesday morning. The message referenced layoffs as “Project Dawn” and included a team-wide meeting invitation tied to the event.

Employees who received the message reported that the meeting was almost immediately cancelledleaving many confused since formal layoff communications had not yet occurred. Amazon has not publicly confirmed the layoff details or the misfired email, and impacted employees have not been officially notified through the company’s usual channels.

Context: Broader Layoff Plan

The botched email comes amid a broader plan by Amazon to reduce its corporate headcount. Earlier reporting indicated the company intended to cut thousands of jobs this cycle, part of a multi-phased reduction that could ultimately see around 30,000 corporate positions eliminated globally. These cuts affect areas including AWS, retail corporate teams, Prime Video and human resources functions.

This follows an earlier round of layoffs in October 2025when about 14,000 corporate employees were let go as Amazon sought to streamline operations, reduce bureaucracy and adapt organisational structures to focus on strategic priorities, including the integration of artificial intelligence technologies.

Internal Confusion and Uncertainty

The premature email highlights the sensitivity and complexity involved in large-scale workforce reshuffles, especially in a sprawling organisation like Amazon that spans multiple divisions and regions. For employees, such miscommunication can add to uncertainty and stress during an already challenging period.

While it remains unclear how many jobs will be officially cut in this particular round or how soon formal notices will be issued, the misfired message has underscored the importance of careful internal communication during major organisational shifts.

Observers of the tech sector note that large companies like Amazon are increasingly balancing efficiency drives with workforce stability, especially as AI reshapes roles and business priorities. The episode serves as a reminder of how delicate and high-stakes internal change management can be.