Google has announced a reduction in its contract workforce that supports YouTube, impacting workers who primarily provide support for YouTube TV and handle tasks related to YouTube’s social media accounts. This decision comes soon after a team of contractors achieved a victory in their unionization efforts. Here’s what you need to know about the layoffs:

Contract Workers Affected

Cognizant workers were informed of the cuts at the beginning of May, with the effective end dates for their employment ranging from May 31 to the end of July. The exact number of impacted Cognizant workers is not clear, but it is estimated that around 120 to 150 Accenture workers will lose their positions.

Impact on YouTube

The impact of the reduced workforce on YouTube and its various properties is still unclear. However, the timing of the layoffs coincides with the recent success of a group of Cognizant workers who provide support for YouTube Music. These workers voted unanimously to join the Alphabet Workers Union.

“Normal Practice”

Cognizant explained that adjusting the workforce for ongoing projects is a normal practice when working with clients. The affected workers will be placed on a “bench” policy, which means they will receive five weeks of paid time to undergo training and explore new internal job opportunities before their employment is terminated.

Google and Cognizant Layoffs

Google began laying off its employees on its payroll in January, cutting jobs for around 12,000 employees. Meanwhile, Cognizant announced that it will terminate around 3,500 employees, roughly 1% of its total workforce, in a period of two years. The IT company will also optimize office space to maximize savings.

Conclusion

Google’s decision to reduce its contract workforce supporting YouTube raises questions about how the platform’s services will be affected. While it is unclear what impact this move will have on YouTube, affected workers will receive paid time to explore new job opportunities before their employment is terminated.