Recently, Spotify Announces Layoffs Affecting 1,500 Employees: Former Staff Member Recounts Receiving Layoff Notification at 7 AM
When Twitter underwent a massive restructuring last year, resulting in the layoff of thousands of employees and its subsequent rebranding as X, it sent shockwaves across the global workforce. Following this trend, several other tech companies also initiated large-scale layoffs. Just when it seemed the wave of layoffs might be subsiding, Spotify dealt a significant blow by announcing a workforce reduction of 17% earlier this week.
Former Spotify employees have taken to LinkedIn to share their experiences. Some are actively seeking new opportunities, while others are using the platform to express their emotions. One ex-employee, in particular, shared his story on LinkedIn, revealing that Spotify had been his dream company since the age of 16. Unfortunately, he found himself among the 1,500 affected by the recent mass layoffs, receiving the disheartening notification at 7 in the morning.
In his LinkedIn post, the former employee described the layoff as an “unexpected turn of events” that happened sooner than he had anticipated. He recounted waking up at 7 am for his routine CrossFit workout, only to discover the news via a text message from a colleague. Despite his deep connection to Spotify, dating back to his teenage years when he discovered the platform while playing in a punk-rock band, he now faces an uncertain future.
Expressing gratitude to those who reached out, he stated that he would take the time to process the situation, regroup, and look forward to determining the next chapter of his life.
Spotify CEO Daniel Ek addressed the layoffs in a blog post, acknowledging the challenging global economic climate despite Spotify’s overall success. He cited the increasing costs associated with growing the business and announced the decision to reduce the company’s total headcount by approximately 17%. Ek acknowledged the impact on many talented individuals, emphasizing the difficulty of the decision.
To support those affected, Spotify committed to providing financial assistance based on tenure, compensating for unused holidays, offering continued healthcare coverage, assisting with immigration-related employment issues, and providing access to job placement services.
Notably, in June of the same year, Spotify had laid off 200 employees from its podcast unit, constituting about 2% of its workforce. This strategic move aimed to streamline operations, focus on the core music streaming business, and reallocate resources to explore new opportunities in the podcasting space.
