Plus: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey rebrand; Tylenol maker Kenvue publicly responds to litigation.
After reports this week that Amazon was making upwards of 30,000 job cuts, the company published a detailed internal memo explaining its latest round of layoffs, which is about half of what was originally reported.
The memo came from Amazon Senior Vice President Beth Galetti. In it, Galetti said Amazon is reducing about 14,000 corporate roles to “flatten layers, remove unnecessary complexity, and help us move faster.”
The company emphasized it wants to operate more like “the world’s largest startup” meaning more agile, customer-obsessed and better positioned for long-term growth, she said.
It also focused on how AI fit into the model:
“Some may ask why we’re reducing roles when the company is performing well. Across our businesses, we’re delivering great customer experiences every day, innovating at a rapid rate, and producing strong business results. What we need to remember is that the world is changing quickly.
“This generation of AI is the most transformative technology we’ve seen since the Internet, and it’s enabling companies to innovate much faster than ever before (in existing market segments and altogether new ones). We’re convinced that we need to be organized more leanly, with fewer layers and more ownership, to move as quickly as possible for our customers and business.”
Galetti acknowledged the impact of the cuts, writing that “we recognize how difficult this is for the individuals affected and for the teams they have helped build.”
She said Amazon will give “most impacted employees 90 days to look for a new internal role,” and those who leave will receive “severance pay, outplacement services, health insurance benefits, and more.”
Why it matters: Amazon’s decision to publish the memo widely, or beyond internal channels, is a strategic one.
Not only does it help to control a narrative which was already taking hold of many more cuts, but it also prevents a leak, something we’ve seen more and more with these kinds of announcements.
By putting the message on Amazon’s own site, the company can present its rationale, tone and offer details rather than letting media or critics interpret or speculate.
The letter also leans into transparency and accountability for the decision, which is especially important in large layoffs as stakeholders expect honest explanations.
The message humanizes the decision, focusing on “working hard to support everyone whose role is impacted” and “recruiting teams will prioritize internal candidates to help as many people as possible find new roles,” laying out concrete steps for affected employees.
Overall, making the memo public helps Amazon manage reputation risk. It demonstrates that difficult decisions are not made in secrecy, but with consideration, communication and an attempt to balance business goals with employee compassion.
Editor’s Top Reads:
- Despite its cultural importance, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s circus has seen declining ticket sales since 2017, when it faced heightened criticism from animal activists. But now it’s getting a modern reboot. Feld Entertainment CEO Juliette Feld Grossman said in an interview with CNN that the brand is moving “at the speed of today’s world, fast-paced, dynamic and full of energy,” noting that “Ringling has always been about connection — between performers and audiences, between families and across generations.” The new show is made to reach a new audience with additions like robot dogs (no more live animals), promotional short-form videos on YouTube that explain how to do simple acrobatic skills, a massive LED screen, an emphasis on acrobats and comedy acts, and an arena experience designed to feel like “a nonstop party vibe.” Feldman also acknowledged that the brand faced “a bit of an identity problem” for several years before the modernization, which has contributed to its waning sales. The rebrand reassures stakeholders that the company isn’t stuck in nostalgia but actively evolving, which then helps rebuild relevance and trust. Feldman acknowledged Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s challenges and then clearly communicated how it is reinventing itself. By appealing to a new crowd through social platforms and short form videos, the brand also increases its reach.
- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue this week, alleging that the companies deceptively marketed acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, as safe for use during pregnancy even though they “knew for years” of risks. Paxton said these risks include both autism and ADHD associated with prenatal exposure. In response, Kenvue shared a public statement rejecting the allegations. The company said that “acetaminophen is the safest pain reliever option for pregnant women as needed throughout their entire pregnancy,” and warns that without it, “women face dangerous choices.” It went on to say, “…rigorous, independent research, endorsed by leading medical professionals and global health regulators, confirms that there is no proven link between taking acetaminophen and autism” while offering links to third-party, medically evaluated information and its next steps about fighting the claims. When companies are sued, the instinct is typically silence. Legal advisers may warn companies to avoid speaking in case what they say is misconstrued or appears as an admission. But Kenvue clearly states its position, using confident language and grounding its argument in science. It also addresses stakeholders without medical jargon. It humanizes the brand at a moment of crisis and leaves no room for interpretation. By responding decisively and publicly, Kenvue shifts the story from “are they hiding?” to “what’s the evidence?”
- New data from BrightEdge indicates that Google is taking back share in AI-driven search after losing ground earlier this year to rivals like ChatGPT, Perplexity and Grok. That increase is only .17%, but that equates to $340 million in ad revenue, per Fast Company. Despite predictions that AI could disrupt search, Google’s market share has stabilized and even ticked upward, thanks in part to its new AI enhancements and continued dominance in traditional search. The point is all the flashy AI tools won’t matter if the fundamentals aren’t in place. To earn visibility in both classic and AI-powered search results, you still need solid SEO, technically sound pages and compelling content. In other words, basics like keyword strategy, site structure and user value continue to be the foundation for success. Keep writing good content and good SEO and you’ll keep winning.
Courtney Blackann is a communications reporter. Connect with her on LinkedIn or email her at courtneyb@ragan.com.
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