New York, New York-based Diageo North America, a multibrand alcoholic beverage manufacturer of brands like Guinness, Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff, Don Julio, and Baileys, continues to restructure in response to current market conditions and has announced a 36 percent reduction in force at its World Trade Center hub.
The reduction in force will impact 305 New York employees, with separations commencing on September 30, 2026. The parent company, based in London, has already announced layoff targets of 2,000+.
According to CEO Dave Lewis, “We are working on recovering our competitiveness in our North America Market. [North America],” Lewis said in a statement. The revised operating framework is being rolled out across Diageo, and the changes are significant...these savings will allow us to invest in the turnaround without needing to reduce operating profit. As we close out the year, I would like to put on record our appreciation for all Diageo colleagues and the way they have engaged with this change program."
Change is constant, and it's coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life, nor promises of a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something terrible hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, at any time, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. While many employees can read the writing on the wall, why do most assume it’s targeted at someone else? Are you now wondering, Am I Next?