Reports from Bloomberg and Business Insider suggest that Apple is letting go of some of its retail team employees.
While it remains unclear how many people are affected, both outlets claim that Apple is framing the layoffs as a way to improve operations rather than as a cost-cutting measure.
Apple has stood out for its lack of layoffs compared to other tech giants, making this development notable.
According to Monday’s reports, the layoffs are within the division responsible for building and maintaining Apple’s retail stores.
Employees impacted by the layoffs have been given until the end of the week to apply for other positions within the company. Those who are not successful will be offered up to four months of severance pay, Bloomberg reports.
Although these are the first reported layoffs of full-time employees at Apple since the big tech cuts began, the company has been cutting costs in other ways.
Last month, Bloomberg reported that the company was laying off contractors, leaving some positions unfilled, delaying bonuses, and reducing travel budgets, among other cost-cutting measures. CEO Tim Cook has stated that layoffs are a “last resort” for the company.
