Atlassian terminates 150 staff

Communication Method: Video, Email, or 1:1?

• Many see a pre-recorded video as cold and disrespectful, especially when paired with “wait 15 minutes to see if you’re fired” and instant laptop lockouts.
• Others argue that all mass layoffs are impersonal by nature; whether via video, email, or large Zoom call, the content is one‑way and bad news either way.
• Some advocate 1:1 or small-group live meetings as more humane; others note this creates days of anxiety as people wait for ominous calendar invites.
• Several point out this was a message to all staff, with separate direct emails to those affected, which is still seen by some as clumsy and needlessly cruel.

Severance vs “Empathy Theater”

• Six months of severance is widely viewed as generous and more meaningful than the exact wording or medium of the announcement.
• A recurring theme: judge layoffs by money, runway, and clarity of information, not by performative “we care so much” speeches.
• Some would gladly accept very blunt or automated notification in exchange for that level of severance.

Scale, Targeting, and Management

• 150 staff is ~1% of headcount; some say that’s routine adjustment in a rapidly grown company, others call it avoidable “peak capitalism”.
• Criticism focuses more on targeting a functioning customer support org than on the raw percentage, with concern about losing experienced humans in favor of chatbots.

AI Angle and Corporate Priorities

• The AI justification is viewed skeptically; early versions of the article apparently oversold “AI replacing jobs” and were later edited.
• Commenters doubt AI support will match human service or lead to lower customer prices; they see it as margin- and shareholder-driven.

Employment Norms and Legal Context

• Debate over at‑will employment vs European-style protections and mandated processes:
  • Some argue strong protections and high severance are appropriate when jobs vanish for “arbitrary” reasons like tech shifts.
  • Others warn that overly punitive or bureaucratic regimes can create false hope and different forms of cruelty.