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⚠️ Active Layoffs — Updated July 2026
Amazon Layoffs 2026: Severance, WARN Act & What to Do Now
Amazon cut over 30,000 corporate employees between October 2025 and May 2026. If you're affected, here's everything you need to know before you sign anything.
✓ Based on Amazon WARN Act filings, reported severance terms, and 2026 employment attorney guidance — Updated July 2026
Jobs Cut
30,000+
Oct 2025 – May 2026
Corporate Severance
2 wks/yr
Min 3 weeks
Warehouse Severance
1 wk/yr
Min 2 weeks
WARN Act Filed
Yes
WA, CA, NJ, VA
COBRA Subsidy
$297/wk
Toward premium
OWBPA Applies
If 40+
21 days to review
⚠️ WARN Act — Amazon Filed Notices, But Violations May Still Exist
Amazon filed WARN Act notices covering 2,198 corporate positions in Washington state starting April 2026, and additional notices in California, New Jersey, and Virginia. However, potential WARN Act violations are being investigated for Amazon Fresh employees in California, Maryland, and Pennsylvania following the January 28, 2026 store closures. If you worked at Amazon Fresh and received less than 60 days notice, you may be owed up to 60 days of back pay.
🛡️ If You Are 40 or Older — Federal Law Gives You Time
The Older Workers Benefit Protection Act gives workers 40 and older at least 21 days to review any severance agreement, and 45 days if this was a group layoff. You also have 7 days to revoke after signing. Amazon cannot legally require you to sign immediately.
Calculate Your Financial Runway After an Amazon Layoff
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Amazon 2026 Severance Package: The Real Terms
These are the reported benchmarks. Your specific offer may differ based on level, tenure, and whether your role was part of a WARN-covered reduction.
| Component | Corporate | Warehouse / Fulfillment |
|---|
| Base severance formula | 2 weeks per year of service | 1 week per year of service |
| Minimum severance | 3 weeks | 2 weeks |
| Maximum reported | ~20 weeks (no formal cap) | ~8 weeks |
| WARN period pay | 60 days full pay + benefits | Varies by location |
| COBRA subsidy | $297/week toward premium | Not confirmed |
| RSU treatment | Unvested RSUs forfeited | N/A |
| PTO payout | Accrued PTO paid out | Accrued PTO paid out |
Amazon's back-loaded RSU vesting is a major issue
Amazon uses a 5/15/40/40 vesting schedule. Employees laid off before their third anniversary lose the largest portion of their equity. If you are within 3–6 months of a major vest date, this is your strongest negotiation lever.
Your Timeline After an Amazon Layoff
1
Day 1: Do not sign anything yetReview your severance agreement carefully. If you are 40+, you have 21–45 days legally.
2
Day 1: File for unemploymentIn Washington, file at esd.wa.gov. Maximum weekly benefit is $999. Every day you delay is lost benefits.
3
Within 60 days: Health insurance decisionCompare Amazon’s COBRA subsidy against ACA marketplace plans at healthcare.gov.
4
Before signing: Consider WARN Act reviewIf you received less than 60 days notice, consult an employment attorney before signing the release of claims.
5
Before signing: Review non-compete and NDAAmazon’s non-solicitation clauses can be broad. Understand what you are agreeing to.
Other Company Layoff Guides
Severance terms based on reported employee outcomes, WARN Act public filings, and employment attorney guidance as of July 2026. Individual packages vary. This is for informational purposes only and is not legal or financial advice.