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Elastic lays off 7% of employees

elastic.co

21–30 of 251 posts

Re: Elastic lays off 7% of employees

#21

Why even bother with such a small layoff? Is there a reason to not just dial up your attrition for a while?

I've seen companies put a percentage of the team on a PIP as a "this is not a layoff but we do need to cut costs" situation. Hopefully Elastic is just being honest about it?

Re: Elastic lays off 7% of employees

#23
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it's just the relative cost of money. Credit, debt, raises, revenue all rely on it. The tech industry got used to zero interest rate and then Covid-era stimulus. Now, suddenly, cashflow matters, but the companies are still run by the same people that only know perception management. Eventually they too will get cycled out.

not to mention SaaS stocks are down making the cost of borrowing against their stock more expensive

Bingo - the combination of rising interest rates and tanking SaaS valuations has left a lot of these companies - specifically PE funded with mountains of debt - in a very weak position. Funny enough I think small SaaS companies are in a good position, both ownership & their potential use of AI, while larger SaaS companies, are in a lot of trouble. Why rent SaaS when you can build applications with AI? but then, who's going to maintain them?

Re: Elastic lays off 7% of employees

#24

This announcement spends remarkably few words talking about the what (7% of the company's workforce was laid off), and a great deal of words talking about how bright the future of the company is and how they're going to hire more people.

Layoff announcements are this kinda tricky class of corporate comms where you need to speak to at least 3 different constituents, with 3 different messages, which are often in conflict.

It's something like:

(A) To the public (e.g. prospects, customers, investors): "This is a good thing and we're going to be an even better bet!"

(B) To the remaining team: "This is tough and I feel your pain and will do better."

(C) To the laid off: "It's not you, it's me, thank you and good luck."

It's hard if not impossible to handle all three of these authentically, concisely, and in the same message. Which is why you can almost immediately find something not to like..

Re: Elastic lays off 7% of employees

#25
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it's just the relative cost of money. Credit, debt, raises, revenue all rely on it. The tech industry got used to zero interest rate and then Covid-era stimulus. Now, suddenly, cashflow matters, but the companies are still run by the same people that only know perception management. Eventually they too will get cycled out.

not to mention SaaS stocks are down making the cost of borrowing against their stock more expensive

but none of this applies to elastic. it's cash flow positive, and has such a cash hoard it's doing stock buybacks.

Re: Elastic lays off 7% of employees

#26
post #18

Why even bother with such a small layoff? Is there a reason to not just dial up your attrition for a while?

i dont understand this either. just dont hire for half a year or so, a generic globocorp gets to that 7% easily.

That doesn't boost the stock after the announcements, why would they do it?

Re: Elastic lays off 7% of employees

#27

Why even bother with such a small layoff? Is there a reason to not just dial up your attrition for a while?

Your best employees are the most likely to leave via attrition, because they have the most opportunity elsewhere.

In theory, a small layoff can target the least productive employees.

Re: Elastic lays off 7% of employees

#28
We're in an outstanding position and well-equipped for the future. I'm excited about the opportunities ahead and focused on making sure Elastic is positioned to lead in this next phase of innovation. - Ash Kulkarni"

If they are in an outstanding position why did he make 7% of the employees lives miserable with a stroke of a pen.

Re: Elastic lays off 7% of employees

#29

Before the 1980s layoffs were seen as a massive failure of the company and almost never happened to tenured employees unless the company was collapsing. Before we are all made to think this is normal and unavoidable behavior.

I wouldn't have nearly as many complaints about this mindset change if ones life (e.g. insurance) weren't still so deeply tied to who your current employer is.

Re: Elastic lays off 7% of employees

#30

Before the 1980s layoffs were seen as a massive failure of the company and almost never happened to tenured employees unless the company was collapsing. Before we are all made to think this is normal and unavoidable behavior.

I don't know how the social contract between employees/employers gets rebuilt..feels like it needs to though
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