Amazon lays off hundreds of employees at Seattle HQ, dismissals expected elsewhere too

After investing for years in growth, Amazon is now laying off hundreds of employees at its Seattle headquarters.

The reason for the lay offs is said to be that the company is consolidating its established retail businesses.

The exact number of employees dismissed is not yet known.

Dismissals are expected in other global operations as well.

According to media reports, the company, due to the earlier aggressive hiring, has some teams with extra staff and some departments with unnecessary funds.

The reports said Amazon's hiring binge had taken the number of its employees from 5,000 to 40,000.

The employees dismissed have been informed of their termination.

Amazon is reportedly the US's second-largest corporate employer.