‘Difficult decision’ | Snap lays off 10% of workforce including DE&I & HR analytics in RTO push

Snap lays off 10% of workforce including DE&I & HR analytics in RTO push

HR staff working on internal employee analytics and DE&I efforts are among those affected by Snap’s decision to lay off 10% of its workforce.

Business Insider heard from those familiar with the layoffs, noting that “several people working on a team within HR that helped with internal employee analytics, including surveys and diversity efforts aimed at hiring and keeping more diverse talent” are included.

This is the latest high-profile case of job cuts affecting HR workers, following reports of job cuts to DE&I staff at the likes of Google and Meta in 2023. DE&I in particular has come under greater public scrutiny and even HR leaders have called for a rethink around diversity strategy.

However, the HR analytics jobs market remains relatively strong, and Snap’s decision appears to buck the belief of many industry leaders that the future of DE&I should be based on HR analytics.

Snap justifies its cuts to around 500 employees as a move to eliminate hierarchy and promote greater in-person collaboration. The company has previously attempted to enforce a return-to-office (RTO) mandate requiring workers to spend 80% of their time in the office.

According to further intel from Business Insider, employees were told by their managers in November that the company can track their WiFi connection to see who is complying with the policy.

Employees are also subject to badge tracking which monitors when people enter and leave an office. Other big tech companies like Meta and Amazon have introduced similar policies and told employees they could be fired if they do not comply.

Snap announced the “difficult decision” to restructure its team on Monday in an SEC filing, citing the need to “best position our business to execute on our highest priorities” and “ensure we have the capacity to invest incrementally to support our growth over time.”

The social media company estimates the layoffs will cost it somewhere in the region of $55 million to $75 million.

CEO Evan Spiegel delivered the news to employees on Monday, but according to Business Insider, members of the tech team including engineers and content moderation staff were let go on Friday.

This latest round of layoffs follows a small round of cuts when its product team was reorganized in November 2023, and a major reorganization in August 2022 when 20% of staff lost their jobs.

Speaking to TechCrunch, a Snap spokesperson said the company will work with those who are affected by the job cuts, though they did not explain exactly how they plan to do so. “We are focused on supporting our departing team members and we are very grateful for their hard work and many contributions to Snap,” the contact said.

Multiple business leaders are also included in the cuts. The Information reports Directors and VPs in content, content engineering, and platform partnerships, alongside their peers in HR, have been let go.

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