Ride-hailing giant Uber is undertaking another round of workforce restructuring, cutting nearly a quarter of the jobs within its People and Places division as part of a broader effort to streamline internal operations and improve efficiency.
The company announced that it is reducing headcount by 23% in the division responsible for human resources, recruitment, workplace facilities, and company culture. While the cuts affect several senior-level employees, they represent less than 1% of Uber’s global workforce of approximately 34,000 employees.
The move comes at a crucial time for the company as it seeks to optimize its organizational structure while continuing to invest in future growth areas, including autonomous vehicles and artificial intelligence-powered tools.
Credits: Moneycontrol
Jill Hazelbaker Takes on Expanded Leadership Role
The restructuring follows a significant leadership change at Uber. Just three weeks ago, longtime executive Jill Hazelbaker was promoted to the newly expanded position of President and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer.
Hazelbaker, who previously led the company’s marketing, policy, and communications functions, now oversees additional responsibilities including Uber’s safety operations and the People and Places organization. The expanded role was created following the departure of leaders who previously headed those departments.
In a memo sent to employees, Hazelbaker explained the rationale behind the changes. She noted that as Uber has grown over the years, some parts of the organization have become overly complex, resulting in overlapping responsibilities, fragmented teams, and unclear ownership across functions.
According to her, simplifying the structure will help teams work more effectively and remain closely aligned with Uber’s business priorities.
Return-to-Office Expectations Tighten
Alongside the job cuts, Uber is also tightening its workplace policies.
Employees within the HR organization who had previously received approval to work remotely are now being asked to comply with the company’s office attendance requirements. Uber’s three-day-a-week return-to-office mandate has been in place since June of last year, but the latest changes signal a stronger push toward in-person collaboration.
The decision reflects a growing trend among large technology companies that are encouraging employees to spend more time in physical offices despite the widespread adoption of remote work during and after the pandemic.
Not an AI-Driven Layoff
Unlike several recent layoffs across the technology industry, Uber has emphasized that the latest workforce reduction is not related to artificial intelligence.
A company spokesperson clarified that the cuts are part of an organizational redesign rather than an effort to replace workers with AI systems. This distinction is noteworthy at a time when many technology firms are restructuring teams and reducing staff while redirecting resources toward AI infrastructure and development.
Uber has generally avoided the sweeping layoffs seen elsewhere in the sector. Instead, the company has preferred targeted workforce adjustments aimed at improving efficiency and controlling costs.
Growth Plans Remain Intact
Despite the job cuts, Uber is far from entering a hiring freeze.
The company currently has more than 800 open positions worldwide and continues to recruit talent in strategic growth areas. One major focus is the commercialization of robotaxis and autonomous transportation technologies, which are expected to play an increasingly important role in the future of mobility.
Uber Chief Executive Officer Dara Khosrowshahi reinforced this message in a separate memo to company leaders. He described the changes as necessary to maximize the effectiveness of Uber’s people operations and position the company for future opportunities.
While Uber recently indicated that increased internal use of AI would contribute to a slower pace of hiring, the company remains committed to investing in innovation and expansion.
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Credits: Investopedia
A Continuing Pattern of Strategic Restructuring
This is not the first time Uber has reshaped its workforce. In 2023, the company reduced staff in its recruiting division and also made cuts at Cornershop, its online grocery subsidiary.
The latest restructuring reflects Uber’s ongoing strategy of refining its operations while maintaining focus on long-term growth initiatives. As competition intensifies across the mobility and technology sectors, the company appears determined to build a leaner and more agile organization capable of adapting to rapidly evolving market demands.
