The short answer
Bristol Myers Squibb is cutting 265 jobs tied to its New Jersey sites, according to a notice the company filed with the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, as reported by NJBIZ on September 22, 2026. The cuts run from December 2026 to May 2027, per NJBIZ. These are job cuts, not relocations, and NJ 101.5 reported that the company confirmed the number.
What happened
The news came from a WARN notice, not a company announcement. A WARN notice is a filing an employer must make with the state before a large layoff, so that workers get advance warning. NJBIZ reported the 265-person filing on September 22, 2026 and updated its story the same day with a statement from a company spokesperson. NJ 101.5 reported on September 23 that the company confirmed the 265 cuts.
Per NJ 101.5, this is the third New Jersey notice from the company in 2026, after notices in February and April. NJBIZ reported the cuts are part of a cost-cutting plan announced in February 2025 that aims to save $2 billion by the end of 2027.
Who is affected
The notice covers some New Jersey-based employees and some field employees who live outside the state but report to New Jersey sites, according to NJBIZ. NJ 101.5 described the group as workers at the company's global headquarters plus some field employees who report to New Jersey sites.
Sources describe the headquarters location differently. NJBIZ says the company has its corporate headquarters in Lawrenceville, along with a 650,000-square-foot building there for commercial and research teams. NJ 101.5 and the WARNTracker listing place the headquarters and the notice in Princeton. Neither outlet reported which departments or job titles are affected.
When it takes effect
NJBIZ reported that the 265 positions will be eliminated between December 2026 and May 2027. NJ 101.5 reported the cuts roll out on a rolling basis starting in December. WARNTracker, which republishes U.S. Department of Labor WARN data, lists December 17, 2026 as the effective date for the notice.
What the company said
A company spokesperson told NJBIZ that the company is aligning its resources and organizational structure to meet changing market demands, so it can operate more efficiently and invest in growth. In NJ 101.5's account, the spokesperson said the changes respond to "the demands of a rapidly evolving landscape."
The $2 billion plan behind the cuts was announced on February 6, 2025, per NJBIZ. In an interview with Endpoints News reported by NJBIZ, CEO Chris Boerner said the savings would come from workforce reductions, including contract positions, open roles and attrition, and from lower operating costs such as marketing on older drugs.
Severance and support
The company has not publicly described a severance package for this round. Patch noted that New Jersey's WARN law requires severance pay for covered layoffs, in addition to the 60 days of notice required by the federal law.
Earlier cuts at Bristol Myers Squibb
This notice follows a series of New Jersey filings over the last two years.
| Notice | Jobs | Timing | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 2025 | 67 | April to December 2025 | NJBIZ, Feb. 6, 2025 |
| February 2026 | 247 | Effective May 21, 2026 | MercerMe and WARNTracker |
| April 2026 | 206 | July 16 to December 31, 2026 | MercerMe, April 22, 2026 |
| September 2026 | 265 | December 2026 to May 2027 | NJBIZ, Sept. 22, 2026 |
NJ 101.5 counted 718 New Jersey layoffs announced by the company in 2026 across the February, April and September notices, after 1,156 announced in 2025 and 1,262 in 2024. NJBIZ put the total at more than 1,800 layoff notices in New Jersey since the $2 billion plan began in February 2025.
The $2 billion plan came less than a year after an earlier $1.5 billion savings plan that involved about 2,200 job cuts worldwide, per NJBIZ.
Questions people ask
How many people is Bristol Myers Squibb laying off in New Jersey?
The September 2026 WARN notice covers 265 positions, according to NJBIZ and NJ 101.5. NJ 101.5 counted 718 New Jersey layoffs announced by the company in 2026 across three notices.
When do the Bristol Myers Squibb layoffs take effect?
NJBIZ reported the cuts run from December 2026 to May 2027. WARNTracker lists December 17, 2026 as the effective date, and NJ 101.5 said the cuts start in December on a rolling basis.
Which Bristol Myers Squibb employees are affected?
Per NJBIZ, the notice covers some New Jersey-based employees and some field employees who live elsewhere but report to New Jersey sites. No outlet reported which departments or titles are included.
Why is Bristol Myers Squibb cutting jobs?
A spokesperson told NJBIZ the company is aligning its resources and structure to meet changing market demands. NJBIZ reported the cuts are part of a plan announced in February 2025 to save $2 billion by the end of 2027.