Internally, the plan is being called "IT Hygiene".
Includes condensing existing groups, with people physically located in the same offices. Some people will be removed from existing teams and placed into different teams, more by virtue of physical location than by skill set. Managers who have groups "condensed" out from under them will either be let go, or may be able to continue in some role as "individual contributors".
Some groups are said to be impossible to condense, due to specialized skill sets plus geographic dispersion. These will be handled on a case-by-case basis for high-value existing employees, but no NEW cases will be allowed (hiring freeze outside of Hub Locations).
As of today 80% to 85% of the people are already concentrated in the Hub Locations, and this ("Round 1") will not affect them. It is said that 10% to 15% of the people will be "impacted" initially.
The way I read that is, "If you're currently located at one of the Hub Locations, you're safe for now. But if you're part of the 15% of the workforce that is NOT in one of the Hub Locations, you're going to get hit".
The above pertains just to IT, which is a small subset of the company. The desired total headcount reduction of 26,000 people is the ultimate goal, so things will get rocky for more people if management perception is that progress is "off track". The unspoken desire is for people to voluntarily leave, but if the total number of telecommuters who get axed PLUS the number of people who voluntarily leave does not add up to the desired 26,000 goal, then people in the hub locations will be targeted in a subsequent round of layoffs.
Discussions are still underway if a "Relo Package" will be offered, or if an "Exit Package" will be offered. Reading between the lines and watching body language, I suspect (but do not know) that the "package" is going to be something like, "Here's $20k to move you and your family from sunny Florida to frigid Minnesota, with no guarantees of future employment, and failure to accept this package constitutes voluntarily resignation".
A "Round 2" could include offering those who meet "the rule of 80" (age plus years of service adding up to at least 80) an exit package if voluntary resignations are thought to be "off track".
No information on a "Round 3", other than it depends on what the numbers are about 30 months from now.
This had to be on top. Posted by @Zh6WZ25-clk.