Key facts
- Uber is cutting 23% of roles in its People and Places division.
- The layoffs affect less than 1% of Uber's 34,000 global employees.
- Jill Hazelbaker is leading the restructuring.
- Affected remote workers must adhere to a three-day-a-week office mandate from June 2025.
- Uber states the layoffs are unrelated to AI.
Uber Technologies Inc. is undertaking a significant restructuring by cutting 23% of roles within its People and Places division, which encompasses HR, recruitment, workplace facilities, and culture functions. This move affects less than 1% of the company's total global workforce of 34,000 employees. The restructuring is being spearheaded by Jill Hazelbaker, who was recently promoted to president and chief corporate affairs officer, consolidating oversight of safety operations and the People and Places organization. Hazelbaker cited organizational complexity, fragmentation, overlapping responsibilities, and unclear ownership as reasons for the layoffs, particularly targeting senior-level positions. Additionally, affected employees who were previously approved for remote work must now comply with Uber's mandate for a three-day-a-week office presence, effective from June 2025. The company explicitly stated that these layoffs are not driven by AI. This news comes as Uber's stock experienced a 2.9% decline on Tuesday, trading as low as $71.33. Despite the stock dip, Wall Street analysts maintain a generally positive outlook, with a consensus 'Moderate Buy' rating and an average price target of $104.68. In separate developments, Uber has been expanding its European presence with robotaxi partnerships and increased its ownership in Careem. The company also recently implemented a cap on employee spending for AI coding tools at $1,500 per month per tool, after exceeding its annual AI budget in four months.