Atlassian has laid off 150 employees through a pre-recorded video message from CEO Mike Cannon-Brookes. The move has sparked criticism over its impersonal approach, particularly given the company’s values of direct communication and transparency.
The restructuring affects Atlassian’s customer support and services team, with many roles to be replaced by artificial intelligence systems. The video announcement did not disclose individual employee identities or provide details about employment status. Affected staff received a severance package of six months’ salary and had their company laptops disabled shortly after.
Experts argue that delivering redundancy notices via pre-recorded videos is impersonal and may be considered illegal under UK employment law. Legal expert Matthew Ottley stated that this approach may put employers at risk, particularly when it comes to following fair and reasonable processes.
This latest move highlights concerns about the influence of AI on jobs in the tech industry. Atlassian continues to expand its use of AI technologies, embedding them in customer contact solutions. The company’s co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes has promoted AI as a transformative tool for Australia’s economy, while also laying off employees in the same period.
The decision to use pre-recorded videos to announce layoffs has raised questions about best practices for managing redundancies in the tech industry. As one expert noted, communication should be clear, compassionate, and followed by meaningful support for those affected.
Source: https://www.techspot.com/news/108912-fired-video-atlassian-terminates-150-workers-using-pre.html