Discord Layoffs: 17% of staff being cut to ‘bring more agility’

Discord is laying off 17 per cent of its workforce, or 170 employees, as it restructures its business.

The reduction, which is the company’s largest to date, comes just months after the voice, video, and text app eliminated nearly 40 jobs in August.

What’s happening at Discord?

In a memo to staff, CEO Jason Citron said Discord needs to “sharpen [its] focus and improve the way we work together to bring more agility to our organization.”

“We grew quickly and expanded our workforce even faster, increasing by 5x since 2020,” Citron said in the memo that was obtained by The Verge.

“As a result, we took on more projects and became less efficient in how we operated.”

He added that the job cuts will put the company in the “best position” to continue building a strong and profitable business.

Discord layoffs in Canada

It remains unclear if Canadian employees are affected by the latest reduction at Discord.

According to the company’s LinkedIn page, it has more than 70 workers in the country.

Severance offers for Discord employees

While severance packages for laid-off Discord employees are expected to include “five months of salary (plus an additional week for every full year at Discord)”, Canadian workers who are let go could be owed as much as 24 months’ pay.

In Canada, non-unionized employees at the tech company are entitled to full severance pay when they lose their jobs due to downsizing, corporate restructuring, or the closure of the business.

This includes non-unionized individuals working full-time, part-time, or hourly in Ontario, Alberta, and B.C.

The amount of compensation you are owed is calculated using a variety of factors, including age, length of service, position at the company, and your ability to find new work.

WATCH: Employment lawyer Lior Samfiru explains what rights employees have if they are being fired or let go on an episode of the Employment Law Show.

Before you accept any severance offer, have an experienced employment lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP review it and your employment contract.

If you don’t receive the correct amount, which happens often, you have been wrongfully dismissed and should take legal action.

Non-unionized employees in Canada have up to two years from the date of their dismissal to pursue proper severance pay.

LEARN MORE
• Severance for provincially regulated employees
• Rights to severance for tech sector staff
• Severance packages during mass layoffs

Major tech layoffs continue

Discord isn’t the only major tech company that has announced sweeping job cuts to kick off 2024.

Other big names, including Google, Amazon, Twitch, Unity, and Xerox, have also pulled out the axe as they continue to navigate challenging economic conditions.

SEE ALSO
• Firm launches $130M class action against Shopify for breach of contract
• Dehumidified Air Solutions in Ottawa closing, laying off 80: Reports
• Where are layoffs happening in Canada?

Lost your job? Talk to an employment lawyer

If you have been fired or let go for any reason, contact the experienced employment law team at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP.

Our lawyers in Ontario, Alberta, and B.C. have successfully represented tens of thousands of non-unionized individuals.

In addition to severance package negotiations, we can assist you on a broad range of employment matters, including:

If you are a non-unionized employee who needs help with a workplace issue, contact us or call 1-855-821-5900 to get the advice you need and the compensation you deserve.