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Citing revenue declines, Airbnb cuts 25% of workforce

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Re: Citing revenue declines, Airbnb cuts 25% of workforce

#521
post #394
post #177

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, strict cancellation policy. For those following the drama, they keep extending their extenuating circumstances policy out but it doesn't cover most of the summer yet. Apparently the circumstances are only extenuating for the immediate future.

I wouldn't worry, it will extend out.. we aren't going to be out of this mess for 12-18 months.... the US especially.

Well here's to hoping that we ARE out of this mess even if it costs me my airbnb deposit.

Re: Citing revenue declines, Airbnb cuts 25% of workforce

#523
post #459

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am not sure why you are being downvoted. It seems that much of HN has very little knowledge of (and interest in) business operations and employment law in other countries. I see your question as genuinely inquiring about this stark difference from what is common in Europe and other countries.

I didn't downvote the OP but I am picking up a tone of indignation that I don't quite understand. I find this pretty interesting. Here is my take on the situation: Let's say I own a widget factory and you are highly skilled at turning paper clips into widgets. We agree on a price for your time and I hire you to start making widgets. Things are going gangbusters, you produce a ton of widgets and I pay you for the time…

You own a factory. Your employees don't. There's a power imbalance in the employment relationship.

Most people (who don't own things like factories) need a regular, predictable, stable income to survive, and finding new employment is not always easy.

Therefore, people in most developed countries have agreed that by taking on an employee, it is contingent on the employer to provide some guarantee of stability. This is borne out by laws restricting firing in many cases, and requiring severance pay in the event.

The USA is an aberration in this regard - even the workers seem to value the rights of the employers far above the rights of the employees. I'm not sure why this is.

Re: Citing revenue declines, Airbnb cuts 25% of workforce

#524

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cutting salaries in half guarantees they lose all the top performers, and probably more than half, instead of the 5 they pick. I don't believe that is the goal.

Yes, during normal times. But these are not normal times - like, who is hiring now? If I were a top performer, I'd take a salary cut if it means saving my colleague's job. I get what you are saying though. They are a business and I guess they're doing what is best for their business. The severance package is generous (relatively speaking), so there's at least that. Edit : I guess I didn't word this properly. I was sa…

> who is hiring now?

Facebook and Amazon, to name a couple that have contacted me in the last week.

Re: Citing revenue declines, Airbnb cuts 25% of workforce

#525
post #502

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I personally suspect that travel related industries will be one of the last to recover, both due to consumer reticence and due to lower levels of disposable income during the recovery.

Also, companies are realizing that maybe they don't need to spend thousands of dollars for last minute business trips if they can just do a zoom meeting instead.

Personally I don’t think this is true. The entire sales team where I work is itching to be able to travel to potential customers again. They’re not at all satisfied with Zoom as a replacement.

Re: Citing revenue declines, Airbnb cuts 25% of workforce

#526
post #358

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And typically much higher unemployment numbers

Not these days. Europe is doing much better than the US in terms of unemployment - wonder why?

The USA's unemployment rate in March 2020 (4.4%) was lower than the EU's unemployment rate in January 2020 (6.2%) according to a very casual Google search. I'm curious how you're drawing this. Are you saying the EU has lower unemployment today than it did in January?

Re: Citing revenue declines, Airbnb cuts 25% of workforce

#527

Separated employees will receive 14 weeks of pay, and one more week for each year served at the company (rounding partial years up). The firm is also dropping its one-year equity cliff so that employees who are laid off with under 12 months of tenure can buy their vested options; Airbnb will also provide 12 months of health insurance through COBRA in the United States, and health care coverage through 2020 in the res…

I moved to Canada for a job and month later disbanded,told my job went to India and not paid my outstanding wages. So yeah pretty generous.

Re: Citing revenue declines, Airbnb cuts 25% of workforce

#528
post #338

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a European, that isn't great. (options excepted). Usually I thought you get 14 weeks plus a month for every year of service, not a week.

But your pay would be $50k p.a. rather than $175k

yes and i wouldn't have to live in a "country" run by a fascist cheeto

Re: Citing revenue declines, Airbnb cuts 25% of workforce

#529

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While Airbnb is clearly going through a rough patch right now, there is a clear bull-case argument for why Airbnb will emerge stronger than it's ever been after this: - Airbnb has sufficient cash in the bank to survive the crisis. - A significant % of hotels and budget chains will not survive the crisis --> decreased competitor supply - People will be looking for budget options when traveling --> increased demand for…

There may very well be a clear bull-case argument for Airbnb being successful long term, but at the moment that's not really the point. Any long term employees who have been around long enough to even have the decision to make regarding exercising options (from other comments it appears that Airbnb switched to RSUs at some point), would be facing a massive tax liability this year. It is clear that there will be some…

It would be interesting to know the fair market value of their next 409A valuation compared to the previous one. The reduced FMV could shift the equation and help those laid off employees exercise at least a portion of their shares when otherwise they would be unable to responsibly do so. Oh, and it would reduce taxes on vesting RSUs for remaining employees too. The worst hit may be those that receive RSUs or exercise options before the write-down, huh? Airbnb should hurry then...

Re: Citing revenue declines, Airbnb cuts 25% of workforce

#530

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They wanted like $1400/month for family coverage when I left my last job. I rolled the dice and went without it. It's available retroactively so if you need it later you can sign up for it.

The crazyness of the best country in the world. "I rolled the dice!". This looks insane to any non-American.

Unfortunately not to some here in Switzerland. The average adult here pays around $350 USD/month for just their coverage, according to official statistics. The total cost for a family might end up less than $1400, but not by much.

Edited to add source: https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/society/new-method_health-insur...

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