Given the tragic ending of the last chapter with Loki's violent retaliation against the poisoned Brewers Village and Ida's critical condition, Chapter 1168 is highly predicted to focus on the immediate, heartbreaking fallout: Ida will likely succumb to the poisoning, acting as the final, devastating trigger that pushes Loki further into despair and solidifies his reputation as the "mad monster," while Harald, absent on his mission, receives the news that forces him to confront the true, malicious intent of the World Government's pact, setting the stage for his inevitable, tragic betrayal and the confrontation with his own son, which will surely serve as the chapter's cliffhanger.
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Amazon's "Big Move": Why 30,000 Corporate Jobs Are Being Cut

It’s an announcement that sends a tremor across the global tech sector: Amazon.com, Inc. is gearing up for its largest single layoff wave to date, planning to cut as many as 30,000 corporate jobs starting this week.

To be clear, this massive move is aimed squarely at the company's white-collar workforce, not the warehouse and fulfillment staff that make up the vast majority of Amazon's 1.55 million global employees. But even so, this is far more than a simple trim.

The Scale: A 10% Reshaping of Corporate Amazon

The staggering number up to 30,000 roles represents nearly 10% of Amazon’s approximately 350,000-strong corporate workforce. This isn't just a cost-saving measure; it’s a clear and deliberate signal that CEO Andy Jassy is reshaping the entire structure of Amazon’s office operations.

Amazon's "Big Move": Why 30,000 Corporate Jobs Are Being Cut

The Three-Part Pressure Driving the Cuts

Why is this happening now? The cuts are the result of a perfect storm of converging pressures:

  1. The Pandemic Hangover: Like many tech giants, Amazon hired aggressively during the peak pandemic years to meet an overwhelming surge in demand. Now that demand has normalized, that extra capacity is weighing heavily on profitability.

  2. Economic Headwinds and Slowing Growth: Even Amazon’s powerhouse cloud unit, AWS, is seeing its rate of growth slow, putting immense pressure on the overall cost structure. Coupled with broader macroeconomic uncertainty and recession fears, bolstering the balance sheet has become a priority.

  3. The Rise of AI and Automation: Perhaps the most strategic driver is the move toward efficiency. CEO Andy Jassy has explicitly stated that the widespread adoption of generative AI tools and automation means Amazon expects to "need fewer people doing some of the jobs that are being done today." This is a transformation, not just a cut.

    The Hit List: Where the Axe Falls

    The layoffs aren't centralized in one area. The entire corporate business will feel the impact, with several divisions reported to be in the scope:

  4. Human Resources (PXT): Reports suggest the People Experience & Technology (PXT) division the very staff that supports the workforce may face cuts of up to 15%.

  5. Devices and Operations: Smaller divisions encompassing devices, services, and operations are also expected to see reductions as the company streamlines efforts.

  6. AWS: Though still a growth engine, internal messages confirm layoffs in areas within the cloud unit such as training, certification, and frontline support.

Beyond the Cut: An Internal Strategy

Adding to the complexity, Amazon appears to have been attempting to thin the ranks before the formal announcement. The company’s recent strict return-to-office policy (five days a week) for corporate staff may have been a tactic to drive "organic attrition," with some non-compliant employees being categorized as voluntarily resigned a move that saves Amazon on severance costs.

What This Means for Everyone

The layoff announcement, carefully orchestrated with managers receiving training on communication just before notifications went out, carries massive implications for staff and the broader industry.

For Employees: Change is the New Normal

  • For Those Staying: Expect a faster pace, increased responsibilities, and a focus on "scrappier teams." The remaining workforce will be expected to absorb more, leveraging new automation tools.

  • For Those Exiting: Severance and benefits vary, but the uncertainty remains real, especially for roles that are structurally shifting due to automation.

For the Industry: A Wake-Up Call for White-Collar Work

Amazon is not alone in the current tech layoff wave, but its rationale is particularly potent. When a titan like Amazon explicitly says "AI will reduce our workforce," it signals that jobs once considered relatively immune corporate, professional roles are now firmly in the crosshairs of automation. This move adds significant fuel to the broader “tech reset” narrative post-pandemic.

For Amazon: A Strategic Gamble

The ultimate success of this move will be measured in the coming quarters. Will the cost savings translate into the margin improvement investors expect? Or will cutting too deep lead to a dangerous loss of top talent and innovation? Amazon is betting that by shedding layers of management and becoming leaner, it can free up capital to aggressively invest in new growth areas, especially AI and next-gen fulfillment logistics.

The next few quarters will reveal whether this bold, transformative cut pays off or creates unintended consequences for the e-commerce behemoth.

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