Block Layoffs

On February 26, 2026, Block laid off about 4,000 employees, nearly half of its workforce, as CEO Jack Dorsey reshaped the payments company around artificial intelligence. The firm employed 10,205 people as of December 31, 2025, and the cuts brought headcount to just under 6,000. Dorsey said AI tools paired with 'smaller and flatter teams' were 'fundamentally changing what it means to build and run a company.' He chose to act all at once rather than spread the cuts over years, explaining that 'repeated rounds of cuts are destructive to morale, to focus, and to the trust that customers and shareholders place in our ability to lead.' He also predicted other companies would make similar AI-driven cuts within a year.

Reason: AI-driven restructuring toward smaller, flatter teams

Source: cnbc.com

Block disclosed a workforce reduction affecting its Oakland, CA operations in August 12, 2025. Approximately 5 roles were eliminated.

Reason: Layoff Permanent

Jack Dorsey told Block employees on March 25, 2025, that 931 people, about 8% of the company's roughly 11,300-person workforce, were being let go in a single day. The cuts fell into three buckets: 391 tied to strategic changes, 460 driven by performance reviews where employees had received below-standard ratings, and 80 management positions eliminated outright, with another 193 managers moved to individual contributor roles. Dorsey's all-staff email was explicit that financial targets, AI replacement, and headcount caps were not the drivers. "When we know, we should move, and there hasn't been enough movement," he wrote. The restructuring also closed 748 open roles. Block had already shed roughly 1,000 positions in January 2024, and Dorsey framed both rounds as preparation for what he called a "transformational moment" in the payments industry.

Reason: Strategy realignment and performance management

Source: techcrunch.com

Block disclosed a workforce reduction affecting its Oakland, OR operations in April 2, 2024. Approximately 20 roles were eliminated.

Reason: Large Layoff - 10 or more workers

Block disclosed a workforce reduction affecting its SF Bay Area operations in January 30, 2024. Approximately 1,000 roles were eliminated.

Source: businessinsider.com

Block disclosed a workforce reduction affecting its Alameda, NY operations in January 30, 2024. Approximately 112 roles were eliminated.

Reason: Layoff Permanent

Block disclosed a workforce reduction affecting its SF Bay Area operations in October 4, 2023.

Source: afr.com