YouTube gives US employees a chance to opt out with severance

WEB DESK: YouTube has rolled out a voluntary exit programme for its US-based employees, offering severance packages to those choosing to leave, the company confirmed on Wednesday. The move was shared with staff in an internal memo from CEO Neal Mohan, which also detailed a major restructuring of the platform’s product teams.

According to the memo, YouTube is reorganising its product division into three independent groups, each reporting directly to Mohan. The “Subscription Products” team will oversee all paid services, including YouTube Music, YouTube Premium, and over-the-top (OTT) offerings.

The “Viewer Products” group will handle the user experience across the main YouTube app, YouTube Kids, Learning, and Trust & Safety, while the “Creator & Community Products” team will focus on tools and features that support content creators and foster audience engagement.

The company clarified that no roles are being eliminated as part of this structural shift. Instead, the voluntary exit option aims to give employees more flexibility as YouTube reshapes its internal operations.

The announcement came shortly after Alphabet, YouTube’s parent company, released its third-quarter financial results. The video-sharing platform generated $10.26 billion in advertising revenue during the period, up 15 percent from last year, underscoring its continued growth despite ongoing adjustments to its internal setup.

Industry observers see the move as part of YouTube’s broader effort to streamline operations, sharpen focus on its subscription services, and strengthen its relationship with creators in an increasingly competitive digital landscape.