Novo Nordisk’s US layoffs are starting to take shape after the business’ reorganization plans back home are wrapping things up. Emerging reports suggest that the drug maker is turning to its biggest market, the US, to begin slimming down its workforce, without the help of Wegovy this time. The Novo staff are expected to be notified over this week and the next, but the exact number of the headcount being eliminated has not been revealed.
The organization’s Denmark-based staff cuts began last month, where 5,000 jobs were initially hit. Novo Nordisk had already indicated that more cuts were expected in international markets, and they appear to have arrived this month.
Novo Nordisk’s US layoffs are on track to unfold this month after a projected 5,000 employees were affected in Denmark, leading to the rise of Club 5,000. (Image: Freepik)
Novo Nordisk’s US Layoffs are Expected to Roll Out Shortly
Novo’s restructuring cuts are expected to hit over 9,000 employees, and we have already seen evidence of the Denmark staff cuts earlier this year. This leaves 4,000 jobs still expected to be eliminated, but it’s unlikely that all of them will be centered in the US. We do not have an exact time frame for when these cuts will be executed and how new CEO Mike Doustdar’s reorganization plans will affect its business in the US.
The company currently boasts a 79,000-strong global workforce, with 34,000 of them based in Denmark. Novo Nordisk’s Danish cuts are reportedly still ongoing, with the process expected to extend into November. Interestingly, employees who have not been hit by the job cuts aren’t having an easy time either, with the company’s RTO policy set to bring most back into the workplace with greater frequency.
What We Know About Novo Nordisk’s Restructuring Cuts in the US
CNBC reports that the cuts will unfold across departments, leaving no stone unturned. HR, rare diseases, clinical development, marketing and sales, finance, public affairs, legal, ethics, and compliance team can expect to be affected by Novo Nordisk’s US layoffs. Such elaborate cuts will require a review of each department to identify those who will be let go, rather than the shuttering of any one team.
The US healthcare industry is already facing significant upheaval with cuts in the private sector as well within the federal level. The government shutdown has resulted in significant job losses, and while some of the cuts have been reversed, many employees are still on their way out.
Amidst Novo’s Staff Cuts, Club 5,000 Emerges as Employees Unite
Despite the tragic nature of Novo Nordisk’s restructuring efforts in 2025, the company’s Danish employees have found a way to hold their heads high and unite. Reuters reports that many employees who have been laid off from the organization united to form an online Club 5,000 community, meant for the approximately 5,000 workers who were let go.
The employees have found a way to share their woes, but beyond that, they have also united to share job leads and organize meetings with each other, going on group walks or simply out for drinks. The resilience of the workers is impressive, and the eagerness to join the group shows us just how important a community and support systems are following layoffs.
While we haven’t seen such movements within the US, such communities can be a very significant way for laid-off employees to get back on their feet with greater ease. Organizations that are on track to conduct layoffs can also take a page out of their books and provide employees with resources and support benefits that they can utilize post-layoffs.
Such considerations are not mandatory; however, the way an organization manages its layoffs does say a lot about the business, affecting aspects from the public perception to the Glassdoor ratings of the organization.
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