What to do if you’re ‘impacted’

What to do if you’re ‘impacted’

Information from the Google Japan Union, March 2023

Google Japan has just announced lay-offs and sent emails to staff who were ‘impacted’, offering them a severance package. This document explains what to do if you receive one of those emails.

You have not been laid off, so don’t give up

Japanese law about lay-offs is very clear: a profitable company like Google cannot lay people off. The email is also very clear: it says “unfortunately, your role has been identified as impacted by this review” but it does not say “you have been laid off”.

Google is expecting you to be confused and overwhelmed and to just accept the separation package that they have offered. You don’t need to do that!

Don’t sign anything, get a second opinion

Don’t rush into signing anything. You have not been laid off: if you want to stay you don’t need to sign the separation agreement; if you want to leave, you can negotiate for a better agreement.

Google knows this, and is offering a ‘bonus’ to sign the severance package within 14 days, to rush you and prevent you from learning about your other options. Don’t rush, get a second opinion from a lawyer or from the Google Japan Union.

Record everything

Record all communication with Google (and take back-ups!) including audio recordings of all meetings. Recording meetings is legal in Japan and the evidence will be important in any court case.

Google has hired skilled consultants to talk to you. They will try to convince you sign the separation agreement, they may suggest or promise things verbally that are not written in the agreement, and they may lie to you. Record every conversation, and review them later with a critical mind.

• Don’t give up
• Don’t sign anything
• Record everything