Spotify Lays Off 6 Percent, Excerpts From Employees Not Amused

It’s a tradition most technology companies try to keep out of their public spotlight, but the difficult news is out: Spotify is cutting its workforce by 6 percent. It looks like the streaming music provider is following the trend set by established tech giants in doing their part to tighten their purse strings in order to remain competitive. Unfortunately that means saying goodbye to a lot of hard-working employees.

The Employees Speak Out

While executives are playing it safe with press releases and carefully chosen words, the employees who were laid off are speaking out and they’re not too pleased. Here are some highlights (or lowlights) of the disgruntled employees’ reactions:

• Jill: “I thought I was doing a great job. Now I don’t know what to do!”
• John: “How am I supposed to pay my rent now?”
• Jacob: “This sucks. I’m telling all my friends to never use Spotify again.”

But There’s Good News, Too…

In their defense, it’s never pleasant when a company begins layoffs, but Spotify is doing their part to soften the blow. For instance, according to the press release, all affected employees will receive severance packages and outplacement assistance. That’s the equivalent of the streaming giant offering a fatherly pat on the back and saying, “It’s not you, it’s us.”

And Now, For Some Humor…

There is one positive outcome to come out of Spotify’s layoffs: it should bolster the job market for professional mopers. With so many people feeling low and let down, it’s no surprise that the demand for individuals who can provide ample frowns and emo tunes is sure to skyrocket.

At the end of the day, Spotify is making a difficult decision that they feel they must do in order to maintain the sustainability of their business. We can only hope that the affected employees find solace soon.