Expedia layoff hits 1,500 employees in tech department: Memo

Expedia Group is laying off approximately 1,500 employees, according to a memo to staff from its CEO circulated Monday.

This reduction in force impacts 8% of the workforce at the Seattle-based travel technology company, which employs over 17,100 individuals. The cuts predominantly affect Expedia’s product and technology division.

The memo, obtained by GeekWire, says that “With so much technical achievement over the last 12 months and so much tech debt behind us, we now are obliged to take a close look at roles, skills, teams, and locations to ensure that our resources are focused in the right areas.”

“While this review will result in us eliminating some roles, it will also allow us to continue to invest in core strategic areas.”

The company announced in September that it was trimming its headcount as it sought to restructure due to advancement in AI technology, though it is not know if these current layoffs are part of that effort.

Impact on Canadian staff

It remains unclear how many of Expedia’s hundreds of Canadian employees will be let go.

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Expedia Group operates numerous brands, including vrbo, Orbitz, Hotwire, Trivago, and Hotels.com, as well as Expedia.ca.

Termination agreements for Expedia Group employees

In Canada, non-unionized employees at Expedia are owed full severance pay when they lose their jobs due to downsizing, corporate restructuring, or economic difficulties.

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

LEARN MORE
• Severance Pay in Ontario
• Alberta severance packages
• Understanding severance in B.C.

People working “on contract” or as a contractor may also be owed severance pay — given that many employees in Canada are often misclassified as independent contractors.

Severance can be as much as 24 months’ pay, depending on a number of factors.

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.

Don’t sign on the dotted line!

Before you accept any severance offer, double-check the amount using our firm’s free Severance Pay Calculator. It has helped millions of Canadians determine their entitlements.

In addition to your salary, make sure to factor in any other elements of your compensation (i.e. bonuses, commission, etc.).

If your employer didn’t provide you with the correct amount, it’s very likely that you have been wrongfully dismissed and should contact an experienced employment lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP. Do not sign any deadline offer from your employer until you have spoken to our team. Once you sign back the offer, you lose your right to negotiate a fair package.

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

Talk to an employment lawyer

Lost your job at Expedia? Contact our team immediately.

The knowledgeable team of employment lawyers at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP has secured proper compensation for tens of thousands of non-unionized individuals across the country.

In addition to severance package negotiations, our lawyers have experience securing solutions for the following legal matters:

If you are a non-unionized employee in Ontario, Alberta, or B.C. who needs help with an employment issue, contact us or call 1-855-821-5900 to get the advice you need, and the compensation you deserve.