Google's January 2023 layoff of approximately 12,000 employees — about 6% of its global workforce — and subsequent smaller cuts primarily affected workers in California, New York, and Washington State. The combination of Google's generous severance (16 weeks minimum), California EDD's processing realities, and the RSU cliff vesting events that some workers experienced at termination created a complex UI picture for affected Googlers.
Google's severance and your UI timeline
Google's 2023 layoff package included 16 weeks of base pay as a floor, with additional weeks based on tenure (1 week per year beyond that). For a 5-year Googler, that was roughly 21 weeks of base pay. Unlike Meta's 2022 package, Google's structure was base-salary-only — performance bonuses and target bonuses weren't included in the severance multiplier for most workers. In California, that severance generally runs alongside UI rather than replacing it. In New York, WARN pay interactions apply. In Washington, file immediately through esd.wa.gov — Washington treats Google's separation packages similarly to Amazon's.
The RSU question at Google termination
Google employees who were laid off mid-quarter sometimes experienced partial RSU vest acceleration at termination. Others had upcoming quarterly vests that were either accelerated or cancelled depending on their specific grant agreements. The UI question: RSU proceeds received as part of your termination settlement are generally not treated as weekly wages for UI purposes in most states. Report them accurately when prompted in your application; your state's agency will classify them. Don't omit them — but don't assume they automatically reduce your weekly benefit either.
California-based Googlers: the EDD experience
With Google HQ in Mountain View and major offices in San Francisco, most laid-off Googlers filed California EDD. The identity verification delays that affect tech workers in California hit Googlers disproportionately because many were first-time filers with no prior EDD claim history. The system's fraud prevention flags first-time high-income filers — not because Google employees are suspected of fraud, but because the risk profile of a first-time filer with no prior account history triggers standard verification. Set up ID.me before you need it, file immediately through EDD's UI Online, and expect 3-6 weeks before first payment.
YouTube, DeepMind, and international employees
YouTube employees in San Bruno file California EDD like other Bay Area Googlers. DeepMind workers in the UK file with the UK's National Insurance system, not US UI. Google employees who worked temporarily in the US on work visas and were laid off face additional complexities — UI eligibility exists regardless of visa status for most workers with covered wages, but your ability to remain in the US and work search while on a visa is a separate, urgent immigration issue that UI rules don't resolve.
Frequently Asked Questions
- I was laid off from Google in Mountain View and received 16 weeks of severance plus my Q1 RSU vest. What do I report to California EDD?
- Report your severance in the application when asked about separation payments. For the RSU vest: if it's described in your termination documents as a termination settlement or equity acceleration, it's typically not a weekly wage for EDD purposes — report it when prompted and EDD will classify it. Do not certify a week as "no income" in a week where you received a large RSU payment without noting it. The EDD application has fields for separating payments by type; use them honestly. An employment attorney familiar with California UI and equity compensation can give you a more precise answer if your specific equity situation is complex.
- I'm an H-1B visa holder who was laid off from Google. Can I collect California UI while on a grace period?
- Yes — California UI eligibility doesn't depend on immigration status for workers who have covered wages and a qualifying separation. Your UI claim is based on your prior employment and earnings, not your current visa status. That said, your 60-day H-1B grace period after termination is a separate, urgent immigration matter — the grace period lets you stay in the US to find new sponsorship or change status, but it doesn't extend indefinitely. Consult an immigration attorney immediately about your options; UI benefits continue as long as you remain eligible and available for work, even during the grace period. If your visa situation requires you to leave the US, that affects your "available for work" status.
- I worked at Google's Chicago office and was included in the January 2023 layoff. Which state do I file with?
- File with Illinois — that's where your wages were earned and where Google paid Illinois UI taxes on your behalf. Check your W-2 Box 15 for Illinois state income tax withholding as confirmation. Illinois's Department of Employment Security (IDES) handles your claim through their IDES online system. Illinois's maximum weekly benefit is around $742 (2024, higher for dependents), lower than Washington or Massachusetts but higher than California's standard max. Illinois has a 1-week waiting period. File through IDES immediately and continue weekly certifications through the Illinois system during your job search.