Amazon is reaching out to eligible former employees, including some previously laid off, about open positions across its business, prompting questions from users on X about why the company is now looking to bring some former workers back.
According to a Business Insider report, the former employees are being contacted about roles across Amazon, including positions in cloud computing and artificial intelligence.
The outreach comes after Amazon laid off more than 30,000 workers over the past year as it continues to expand its AI operations.
David Adubiina
Which Former Employees Is Amazon Reaching Out To?
Some of the outreach is focused on former employees with AI and machine learning experience.
Amazon’s AI agent organization, led by AWS Vice President Swami Sivasubramanian, invited former employees to discuss new opportunities through what it called the “Swami’s Boomerang Reengagement Initiative.”
One email seen by Business Insider told former employees that “a lot has changed since you were here” and pointed to work happening across AI and machine learning.
Meanwhile, the latest outreach gives Amazon another way to tap into people who already know its systems and teams, particularly as it competes for talent in areas such as AI.
Amazon's outreach is also not the first time the company has considered bringing former employees back.
In 2023, AWS Human Resources Vice President Ian Wilson told employees that some workers affected by Amazon's job cuts were eligible for rehire. He encouraged managers to consider how the company could “proactively extend an invitation” to former employees who wanted to return.
Amazon's own hiring FAQ also says former employees can reapply, and that their eligibility for rehire is assessed based on their employment record.
Why Are Users Questioning the Layoffs?
Even though rehiring former employees is not new, the retail platform's outreach has attracted attention because some of those being contacted were previously laid off.
“That’s legit insane to pip someone and then rehire them,” one user wrote on X, adding that it “proves the PIP was not based on performance in the first place.”
Another user questioned Amazon's approach to performance improvement, writing: “They hired like crazy and then fired a large number to keep their PIP quota going. Couldn’t have happened to a nicer company btw.”
While the comments raise questions about Amazon’s layoffs, many companies this year, including Amazon, have cited AI as a major reason for cutting jobs.
Could Amazon’s Return-to-Office Policy Be Part of the Picture?
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