Amazon confirms 16,000 job cuts after email accidentally leaked layoff plans - Alan Lewis comments in People Management

Amazon has confirmed plans to cut 16,000 roles globally, following an internal communications slip that revealed the redundancies before an official announcement.

The job cuts, affecting staff in the US, Canada and Costa Rica, form part of Amazon’s wider restructuring as it continues to reorganise its business around AI.

Commenting to People Management, partner Alan Lewis, warned that in the UK, such missteps could have serious legal consequences for employers if proper consultation is not followed.

“Consultation has to be meaningful and must begin before decisions are finalised,” he said.

Failure to collectively consult could result in protective awards of up to 90 days’ pay per employee — rising to 180 days’ pay for dismissals taking effect after April 2026 — on top of any compensation for unfair dismissal.

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