CEO celebrated for laying off staff after offering generous severance
Melanie Perkins, the CEO of Australian tech firm Canva, announced that her company would be laying off nearly 1,300 people
TL;DR
- Canva is laying off 1,271 employees, 22% of its workforce, due to new technology.
- CEO Melanie Perkins announced a generous severance package for affected staff in 37 countries.
- The package includes at least six months' pay, a year of healthcare, a year of LinkedIn Premium, and the ability to keep work MacBooks.
- A 'Canva Collective Fund' will support former employees starting their own businesses without Canva taking equity.
- Perkins' approach has been widely praised for its compassion and empathy.
- Canva's valuation has been impacted by AI advancements, with backers and the company itself lowering its valuation.
- The global tech sector has seen over 204,000 layoffs this year, with projections for more by year-end.