Apple is making a rare move, as it is making some cuts in its sales departments, laying off dozens of people in sales roles, according to Bloomberg. The publication says Apple is aiming to simplify the way that it sells products to businesses, schools, and governments.
Apple told Bloomberg that the changes it is making in its sales team is designed to allow them to better connect with customers.
To connect with even more customers, we are making some changes in our sales team that affect a small number of roles. We are continuing to hire and those employees can apply for new roles.
Employees in affected positions received notice over the past few weeks. Positions that have been eliminated include account managers for large businesses, schools, and government agencies, as well as staff at Apple’s briefing centers for major customers. As you might imagine, employees were reportedly surprised by the layoffs, but they will be allowed to apply for other positions within Apple.
The latest cuts followed the elimination of about 20 roles several weeks ago within Apple’s Australian and New Zealand sales teams.
The report says affected employees believe that Apple is looking to move more sales to third-party retailers, allowing the Cupertino company to save money by cutting salary costs.
The cuts include longtime managers and even long-time employees, some who have been with Apple for 20 or 30 years. One major target of the layoffs: a government sales team that works with agencies including the US Defense Department and Justice Department.
That team had already been facing a drop in sales thanks to the 43-day US government shutdown, as well as cutbacks imposed by the Department of Government Efficiency’s moves to slash spending.
Employees have a bit nearly two months to find a new role. Those who haven’t been able to secure another position in the company by January 20 will receive a severance package. Apple is advertising sales roles on its jobs website and told laid-off workers they could apply for them.
