Amazon’s Strategic Job Cuts in Washington State: A Closer Look at the Company’s Staffing Decisions

Amazon Announces 84 Job Cuts in Washington State

Amazon has recently filed a notice with the state of Washington, indicating that it will be eliminating 84 jobs. These job cuts are part of regular business operations and are not related to the global layoffs of 14,000 corporate positions announced by the company in October.

According to Amazon, the restructuring of its organizational structure is a routine process that may result in adjustments. The company emphasized that these individual job eliminations are not indicative of broader workforce actions.

The notice is in compliance with a new state law that mandates employers to disclose all terminations within 90 days of a prior notice under the state’s “mini” version of the WARN Act.

Amazon spokesperson Brad Glasser stated, “We’ve informed a relatively small number of employees that their roles will be eliminated as the result of individual business decisions.” The affected employees will receive 90 days of full pay and benefits, transitional health coverage, and job placement services.

The separations are scheduled to take place between Feb. 2 and Feb. 23, 2026, across various office locations in Seattle and Bellevue, as well as remote workers based in Washington. The roles affected include software development engineers, program managers, recruiters, HR specialists, and UX designers.

Employees were notified well in advance, with at least 89 days’ notice given, exceeding the legal requirement of 60 days. Those who secure internal transfers before their separation date will not be laid off.

In a separate announcement in October, Amazon revealed plans to cut 14,000 corporate jobs globally to streamline operations. Amazon’s HR chief, Beth Galetti, hinted at further cuts in 2026, with reports suggesting the total layoffs could reach 30,000, making it the largest layoff in the company’s history.