Mass Lay-Offs and Company Closures in 2026

Photo Credit: Workday / Workday headquarters at 6110 Stoneridge Mall Road in Pleasanton

(PLEASANTON, Calif.) – The City of Pleasanton has experienced a series of job reductions and business closures since late September 2026, spanning the technology, grocery and restaurant industries. State Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) filings and local reports have documented the changes.

Pleasanton-based cloud software company Workday, located near the Stoneridge Mall, notified 142 employees of layoffs that will be effective on November 30. According to the Form 8-K filed by Workday, the cuts are part of a company-wide reduction of approximately 2.5 percent of its workforce globally, which are focused on product and technology roles. 

The positions affected in Pleasanton include software development managers, automation engineers, and certain senior leadership positions. According to the 8-K document, “Certain functions within Workday announced reorganizations designed to better align team structures with Workday’s strategic growth priorities.” This comes after an earlier 2026 mass layoff that affected 154 local positions in the Pleasanton headquarters. According to the 8-K document, Workday is planning to continue to hire in key positions and other locations throughout the 2027 fiscal year.

Safeway, a part of the wider Albertsons company, filed notices to 50 permanent positions that will be effective on November 20. The reductions will cover two sites in Pleasanton, 46 positions at the Safeway corporate office on Dublin Canyon Road, and four positions at the Stoneridge Mall Road location. Positions affected by the layoffs will include engineering, product management and senior management positions. For cost efficiency, Albertsons pursued a broad corporate restructuring.

In the retail industry, Tawa Supermarket Inc. announced the closure of its 99 Ranch Market Store in the Rose Pavilion shopping center. An anchor tenant of the shopping center for 16 years, the store is scheduled to officially close on December 5. According to the WARN notice provided by the business the closure will affect 54 employees. In the Tri-Valley, two 99 Ranch locations will remain open, which will be one near the San Francisco Premium Outlets in Pleasanton and one in the City of Dublin.

Menlo Park-based restaurant Cook’s Seafood closed both locations in Menlo Park and Pleasanton on October 28. The former restaurant at Koll Center Plaza was only opened in 2025 after plans and permits were filed in 2017. The original restaurant in Menlo Park has been open since 1928. According to a notice posted at the Menlo Park location, “We are sad to inform you that after 98 years, we are closing all locations effective October 28, 2026.”

Photo Credit: Nextdoor / User “John S.” posted the closure announcement of Cook’s Seafood at it’s primary location in Menlo Park.

These developments in Pleasanton and to an extent, the Tri-Valley add to earlier layoffs in 2026. Combined WARN notices in Pleasanton in the recent months have affected at least a few hundred positions across several employers and industries.

California’s WARN Act requires employers to provide notice in advance for mass layoffs or closures at large sites, along with a payment of final wages to those affected on their last day of employment.

Local workforce agencies and the Employment Development Department (EDD) provide resources for workers affected by these recent layoffs and closures, which include job search assistance. 

To add to or correct any information in this report, please contact me at joel.m@lead4earth.org or leave a comment below with your thoughts.