GeekWire Podcast: Expedia’s surprise layoffs; Amazon’s new grocery store; and tech workers’ big salaries

Right here’s what we’re speaking about this week on the GeekWire Podcast.

In a shock transfer, Seattle-based journey website Expedia laid off about 12 p.c of its workforce this week, together with 500 individuals in Seattle. Chairman Barry Diller had referred to as the corporate a “bloated group” on a current earnings name. It feels like he’s cracking down and needs extra focus, extra revenue and fewer wasted effort.

• Expedia cuts 3,000 jobs, together with 500 at new Seattle HQ — learn the inner electronic mail to staff

Amazon opened a brand new grocery retailer in Seattle this week however … there was one thing lacking. We check out Amazon Go Grocery, which builds on the corporate’s chain of Amazon Go comfort shops. This retailer has extra meals, and even grocery carts, however you continue to gained’t discover a checkout line.

• Inside ‘Amazon Go Grocery’: Tech big opens first full-sized retailer with out cashiers or checkout strains

A brand new survey from the federal Labor Division finds that Seattle-area tech staff are making common annualized complete compensation of virtually $280,000 a 12 months. That determine blows previous different professions within the Seattle area and is even outpacing the benchmark for hefty salaries, monetary staff in New York Metropolis.

• Seattle-area tech staff earn $279K/12 months on common in complete compensation, based on new BLS information

With GeekWire’s Todd Bishop, Monica Nickelsburg and Kurt Schlosser. Audio enhancing and manufacturing by Curt Milton. Music by Daniel L.Ok. Caldwell.