New York, Jan 29, 2026, 15:24 EST — Regular session.
- Shares of Home Depot slipped in afternoon trading following the company’s announcement of corporate layoffs and a new five-day return-to-office policy
- A Georgia WARN notice reports 797 employees impacted, with layoffs beginning March 31
- Investors are eyeing the February 24 earnings release for fresh clues on demand and margin trends
Shares of Home Depot slipped Thursday following the announcement of roughly 800 corporate job cuts and a new rule requiring corporate employees to return to the office full-time. The stock fell about 0.8% to $372.43, mirroring drops in Lowe’s and a wider retail ETF.
The workforce shift comes amid intense investor scrutiny. Such cuts might signal discipline—or caution—hinging on how upcoming sales figures pan out.
For Home Depot, the signal is crucial since it’s tied closely to housing turnover and major renovation spending. When that engine slows, even minor shifts in costs get noticed.
A Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification filing in Georgia revealed a permanent layoff affecting 797 employees, with the first separations scheduled for March 31, 2026. The notice detailed 146 workers at the Atlanta-area location, while the remainder hold remote positions.
Home Depot CEO Ted Decker told staff the restructuring aimed to “increase our speed and agility,” according to a letter obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Spokesperson Sara Gorman noted that many of the cuts hit technology roles and said AI “had been happening for a while,” emphasizing the shift was about realigning priorities. ajc
Home Depot’s announcement arrives amid a wave of U.S. companies slashing payrolls to boost efficiency, pointing to cost control and automation after years of aggressive hiring.
Job cuts and stricter office rules can backfire, particularly if they disrupt teams essential to pushing projects forward. Investors are also sizing up whether cost savings at the corporate level will balance out any additional slowdown in home improvement demand.
Home Depot’s next major event comes on Feb. 24, with quarterly results and guidance set for 9:00 a.m. ET.
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