Amazon has announced its plan to cut 9,000 jobs in the next few weeks. This is in addition to the 18,000 jobs that were eliminated in January earlier this year. Despite experiencing astronomical growth during the pandemic, Amazon layoffs are in response to the depressed economy and other market factors. Amazon layoffs will be targeting Amazon’s technology sectors and subsidiaries

This announcement comes on the heels of numerous other companies announcing huge cuts to their workforce. The tech industry experienced significant hiring throughout the pandemic and are now seeing disproportionately high layoffs.

Employees being dismissed in these large layoffs may face a saturated job market with more layoffs than hiring. It is important to note that these factors may increase the value of their severance package entitlements, despite what an employer may claim. An employer cannot point to a depressed economy as a justification for offering reduced severance packages to dismissed employees. Just the opposite, in fact. Employees entering a competitive job market or depressed economy may be able to use those factors to leverage a lengthier notice period.

Before signing any severance package, employees that have been laid off should be sure to have it reviewed by an experienced employment lawyer. It can be very difficult for dismissed employees to know whether a severance package is fair, and to ensure that they are not leaving any money on the table.

To better understand your employment rights and explore the viability of a claim, we encourage employees to seek legal advice. Equally, we encourage employers to speak with a lawyer to understand their rights and obligations, or any other employment concerns. We at Whitten & Lublin are happy to provide insight and advice into your specific circumstances. If you are looking for employment lawyers and would like more information about what Whitten & Lublin can do for you, please contact us online or by phone at (416) 640-2667 today.

Author – Luna Li