@OP I had an internal transfer lined up recently. HR confirmed they were drafting my offer letter, but then the classic delays started creeping in. My expected start date came and went.
Now I’m being told that while my offer "technically still stands," there is no space so they have zero timeline on when I can actually transition—meaning it could take months, or might not be resolved until 2027.
From floor chatter and talking to peers, this isn’t isolated to the team I am in and applied to—multiple departments are hitting this same brick wall with internal moves.
At this point, it feels like stealth headcount reduction. Stringing people along until they get frustrated and voluntarily leave seems like the unspoken strategy so they don't have to do formal layoffs or pay severance.
Is anyone else seeing this exact playbook across other divisions right now? Already polishing my resume and applying elsewhere, but wanted to sanity-check how widespread this is.