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Restructuring Announcement

automattic.com

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Re: Restructuring Announcement

#91

Post by dylan604 »

munificent wrote: post #57
jihadjihad wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> non-Automattic employees non- Automatticians . Yes, they literally used this term in TFA.

I know this really bugs some people but every tech company these days has a demonym for its employees. It doesn't mean that employees have some cultlike adoration for the company. It's just very convenient inside the company to have a single short word to refer to all employees of the business.

> It doesn't mean that employees have some cultlike adoration for the company

No, but it does mean that the company wishes that employees had some cult like adoration. The line between proud of the company one works for and being cult like is not rigid, and moves depending on the company

Re: Restructuring Announcement

#92

Post by toomuchtodo »

pityJuke wrote: post #89
gregoryl wrote: post #79

Huh. >> There are no layoffs plans at Automattic, in fact we're hiring fairly aggressively and have done a number of acquisitions since this whole thing started, and have several more in the pipeline. https://old.reddit.com/r/Wordpress/comments/1hxnh73/automatt...

How infuriating for anyone recently hired caught in this trap. It seems to me the obvious, from both a business & human perspective, is to stop hiring at first signs of trouble, before layoffs. To do so otherwise is cruel. I doubt Matt had zero idea about this possibility two months ago.

Those lacking empathy don’t know how to not be cruel. They keep filtering to the top unfortunately. Something that remains to be solved for.

Re: Restructuring Announcement

#93

Post by dylan604 »

fwip wrote: post #38
Arainach wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I disagree - it's not properly addressed, but it's nice to see it at least brought up. Layoffs are always awful, but seeing companies talk about "changing economic realities" amongst continuing revenue and profit growth - often all time highs - is a real morale killer for those who are left behind. Microsoft/Amazon/Alphabet/Google are trillion dollar megacorps who are insanely profitable, but they're firing people be…

I might agree with you, if the "why we're making changes" section had listed even one reason to lay people off.

Our revenue continues to grow, and will be even more profitable as we lay off 16% of the employees.

The tone being set is not a good one to be sure.

Re: Restructuring Announcement

#94

Post by beaucollins »

duskwuff wrote: post #39
blatantly wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Plus severance will be paid but didn't say how much. I was thinking this is a boilerplate firing email though!

I wonder if it's better or worse than the voluntary termination deal they offered to employees last year (first 6 months, then 9 months pay).

It’s worse. Max I’m seeing is 9 weeks.

Re: Restructuring Announcement

#95

Post by beaucollins »

Jare wrote: post #70
blatantly wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Plus severance will be paid but didn't say how much. I was thinking this is a boilerplate firing email though!

> how much With so many countries and legal frameworks to comply with, there's never going to be a single answer for this.

It’s looking like countries with better worker protections saw zero layoffs.

Re: Restructuring Announcement

#96

Post by dylan604 »

oblio wrote: post #74
preinheimer wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you scrap a laptop you get a nice, auditable, chain of custody from the end user to the company that will certify it's been destroyed. If you sell someone their old laptop you need to ensure that it's actually been wiped, not just "I copied my files over and started using the new one". I've seen a few IT departments be not great at "Sam got their new laptop two weeks ago, someone should follow up now to see if the…

I'm talking about some companies that should have the best IT departments on the planet.

Writing off equipment through depreciation is a time honored thing for corps. If they sell them, they are no longer a write off. That's now more work for the bean counters.

Re: Restructuring Announcement

#97

Post by dylan604 »

MDGeist wrote: post #62
etchalon wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We always let our ex-employees keep their laptops because a. why not? and b. I don't need laptops for positions that no longer exist.

I was at a company that let people keep laptops (after they were wiped) largely because the severance was so meager it seemed they expected people to sell the laptops for some extra cash. :p

doubtful it was considered extra cash, but just now not needing to spend cash on replacing the laptop with personal money

Re: Restructuring Announcement

#98

Post by apocalyptic0n3 »

lenerdenator wrote: post #47
wmf wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

With apologies to Louis XIV, Matt is Automattic.

wait, did he put his name in the company name? if so, that's what we in the narcissist-identifying business call a "tell".

Yes. He also calls the employees Automatticians. So they're all just Matt.

Re: Restructuring Announcement

#100

Post by paradox460 »

pityJuke wrote: post #89
gregoryl wrote: post #79

Huh. >> There are no layoffs plans at Automattic, in fact we're hiring fairly aggressively and have done a number of acquisitions since this whole thing started, and have several more in the pipeline. https://old.reddit.com/r/Wordpress/comments/1hxnh73/automatt...

How infuriating for anyone recently hired caught in this trap. It seems to me the obvious, from both a business & human perspective, is to stop hiring at first signs of trouble, before layoffs. To do so otherwise is cruel. I doubt Matt had zero idea about this possibility two months ago.

This will continue until there are actual consequences for those responsible.

I'm of the mindset that any time a company does layoffs, they should start from the top And work down.

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