Dolby Laboratories layoffs, on the record
Every job cut, severance charge and restructuring Dolby Laboratories reported in its annual reports, 2023 to 2025, quoted from the filings. Headcount went from 2,246 to 2,051.
Headcount, as reported
| Annual report | Employees | As of |
|---|---|---|
| 10-K for 2023 | 2,246 | As of September 29, 2023 |
| 10-K for 2024 | 2,080 | September 27, 2024 |
| 10-K for 2025 | 2,051 | September 26, 2025 |
Job cuts, severance and restructuring
Our summaryIn June 2023, Dolby implemented a focused restructuring plan consisting primarily of workforce reductions and facility consolidations, with severance offered to about 130 employees and a facility consolidation charge in New York, NY.
Word for word“In June 2023, we implemented a focused restructuring plan, primarily consisting of workforce reductions and facility consolidations to improve execution in alignment with our strategy and to reduce our cost structure through improved utilization of our global infrastructure.” 10-K for 2023
Our summaryIn September 2023, Dolby initiated a restructuring plan to focus resources on its highest strategic priorities, with severance offered to about 160 employees.
Word for word“In September 2023, we initiated a focused restructuring plan with the purpose of focusing our resources on our highest strategic priorities.” 10-K for 2023
Our summaryDolby recorded an impairment loss related primarily to internally developed software for projects it is no longer pursuing, in connection with its restructuring.
Word for word“In conjunction with focusing our resources on our top strategic priorities, we recorded an impairment loss of $16.9 million related primarily to internally developed software for projects we are no longer pursuing.” 10-K for 2023
Our summaryDolby initiated a restructuring plan in April 2024 to focus resources on its highest strategic priorities, recording severance and related benefits expense.
Word for word“In April 2024, we initiated restructuring actions with the purpose of focusing our resources on our highest strategic priorities.” 10-K for 2024
Our summaryDolby recorded expense for severance under the April 2024 plan and reported expected savings.
Word for word“In connection with this plan, we recorded an expense in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 of $4.6 million in severance and other related benefits.” 10-K for 2024
Our summaryDolby initiated a restructuring plan in September 2023 to focus resources on its highest strategic priorities, with a severance expense and an impairment loss on internally developed software.
Word for word“In September 2023, we initiated a restructuring plan with the purpose of focusing our resources on our highest strategic priorities.” 10-K for 2024
Our summaryUnder the September 2023 plan, Dolby recorded a further severance expense in the first quarter of fiscal 2024.
Word for word“In continuation with this plan, we recorded an expense in the first quarter of fiscal 2024 of $7.4 million in severance and other related benefits.” 10-K for 2024
Our summaryDolby recorded the June 2023 plan severance and facility consolidation expense in the third quarter of fiscal 2023.
Word for word“As a result of these actions, we recorded expense in the third quarter of fiscal 2023 of $ 10.9 million in severance and other related benefits and expense of $ 6.9 million related to a facility consolidation in New York, NY.” 10-K for 2024
Our summaryDolby reported total restructuring charges for fiscal 2024 and fiscal 2023 in its income statement.
Word for word“Restructuring charges $6,384 $47,061 $(40,677) (86)% Percentage of total revenue 1% 4%” 10-K for 2024
Our summaryDolby started a restructuring to consolidate teams into fewer locations and recorded severance expense in fiscal 2025, with more charges expected.
Word for word“In connection with this plan, we recorded expense in fiscal 2025 of $ 6.1 million in severance and other related benefits.” 10-K for 2025
Our summaryDolby expects a further severance charge to finish the September 2025 restructuring plan by the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2026.
Word for word“The remaining components of this plan are expected to be completed by the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2026, resulting in an additional charge of approximately $ 10 million in severance and other termination benefits.” 10-K for 2025
Our summaryDolby began a restructuring to align research and development, and to a lesser extent sales and marketing, resources with top strategic priorities and recorded severance in fiscal 2025.
Word for word“In connection with this plan, we recorded expense in fiscal 2025 of $ 9.2 million in severance and other related benefits.” 10-K for 2025
| Fiscal year ended | Restructuring charges | Cash paid for restructuring |
|---|---|---|
| 2016-09-30 | $1.2 million | — |
| 2017-09-29 | $12.9 million | — |
| 2018-09-28 | −$446,000 | — |
| 2019-09-27 | $36.6 million | $7.7 million |
| 2020-09-25 | $1.8 million | $22.2 million |
| 2021-09-24 | $10.2 million | $10.1 million |
| 2022-09-30 | $10.6 million | $5 million |
| 2023-09-29 | $47.1 million | $25.6 million |
| 2024-09-27 | $6.4 million | $24 million |
| 2025-09-26 | $15 million | $13.1 million |
Dolby Laboratories has filed no restructuring notice (Form 8-K, Item 2.05) since 2016. Companies file one only for a cut they judge material, so many announced layoffs never appear as one. This page shows what the company reported to the SEC, not news reports or state layoff notices.
Read from Dolby Laboratories’s annual reports (10-K for 2025, 10-K for 2024, 10-K for 2023) and the financial data it files with the SEC, as of 2025-11-18. Every quotation is word for word from the filing linked beside it; how these pages are built and checked. The full record is in its company data sheet.