Uber cuts 23% of HR and workplace division staff
Uber laid off 23% of its People and Places division (HR, recruitment, facilities), affecting less than 1% of its 34,000 global workforce. The restructuring, led by new president Jill Hazelbaker, aims to streamline an overly complex organization. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi stated the changes are necessary for effectiveness. Uber explicitly denied AI as a factor, though the company is heavily investing in AI tools. Remote-work policies for HR staff are being tightened to three in-office days per week.
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Uber Stock Alert: What to Know As Uber Slashes People Team by 23%
Uber Technologies (UBER) announced a 23% reduction in its People and Places division, which handles HR, recruitment, and corporate culture. The layoffs affect less than 1% of Uber's 34,000 global workforce, with senior-level positions disproportionately impacted. The restructuring is led by newly promoted president Jill Hazelbaker, who aims to streamline an overly complex division. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi supports the move as a shift toward leaner operations and cost efficiency, which Wall Street may reward. Uber explicitly stated that AI did not drive these cuts, distinguishing itself from other firms. However, Uber's AI usage is significant: its 2026 AI coding budget was exhausted in four months, leading to tiered spending caps. AI coding assistants have 95% adoption among engineers, and 10% of code is AI-generated, prompting moderated hiring plans. UBER stock is down 20% from its 2026 high.
Yahoo FinanceUber Lays Off Nearly a Quarter of HR and Recruitment Staff, Denies AI Role
Uber is laying off approximately 23% of its People and Places team, which includes human resources and recruitment staff, affecting less than 1% of its global workforce of 34,000 employees. The company explicitly stated that artificial intelligence was not a factor in the decision, despite other tech firms citing AI for job cuts. The layoffs come after Jill Hazelbaker was named to the newly created role of chief corporate affairs officer and president. In a memo, Hazelbaker said the reorganization addresses teams that have become too complex and fragmented with overlapping responsibilities. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi also issued a memo explaining the changes are necessary to maximize the effectiveness of the People team. While Uber is using AI to boost employee productivity and reduce hiring, the company maintains these specific layoffs are unrelated to AI.
All Content from Business InsiderUber lays off 23% of HR and workplace division staff
Uber is cutting 23% of jobs in its People and Places division, which covers human resources, recruitment, workplace facilities, and culture, according to Bloomberg. The affected headcount is below 1% of Uber's global workforce of 34,000, with senior-level positions accounting for a large share of eliminated roles. The restructuring comes three weeks after Jill Hazelbaker was promoted to president and chief corporate affairs officer, who described the organization as 'too complex and fragmented.' CEO Dara Khosrowshahi stated the changes are necessary to maximize effectiveness. Despite industry trends, Uber explicitly ruled out AI as a factor in these cuts. Remote-work arrangements for HR staff are being rescinded, requiring at least three days in-office per week. Uber reported Q1 gross bookings of $53.7 billion, up 25% year-over-year, and has over 800 active job listings, including roles supporting robotaxi commercialization. Uber stock fell 0.6% following the announcement.
Yahoo FinanceUber Cuts 23% of HR and Workplace Division Jobs
Uber is laying off 23% of its People and Places division, which includes human resources, recruitment, workplace facilities, and culture. The affected headcount is less than 1% of Uber's global workforce of 34,000, with senior-level roles making up a large portion of the cuts. The restructuring comes three weeks after Jill Hazelbaker was promoted to president and chief corporate affairs officer, who cited organizational complexity and overlapping responsibilities as problems to fix. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi stated the changes are necessary to maximize the People team's effectiveness. Uber explicitly ruled out AI as a factor in these cuts, despite broader industry trends. Remote-work arrangements for HR staff are being rescinded, requiring at least three days per week in the office. The company reported strong Q1 gross bookings of $53.7 billion and has over 800 active job listings, including roles supporting robotaxi commercialization. Uber stock fell 0.6% following the announcement.
Yahoo FinanceUber slashes people division by nearly a quarter; CEO says 'changes are necessary'
Uber is cutting 23% of its people division, which includes human resources and recruitment staff, as part of a streamlining effort under new president Jill Hazelbaker. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi stated in a memo that the changes are necessary to maximize the team's effectiveness. The cuts affect well under 1% of Uber's 34,000 employees. While many tech companies attribute layoffs to AI, Uber did not cite AI as a reason. However, the company confirmed it has set budget tiers for agentic AI tools for employees, with a base tier of $1,500 per month. Uber's tech chief previously noted the company exceeded its 2026 AI budget within four months. The layoffs aim to build a more connected and modern organization, addressing overlapping responsibilities and fragmented teams.
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