Automattic layoffs: WordPress, Tumblr parent cuts jobs with more expected

# Automattic Begins Layoffs Across Multiple Teams as Further Job Cuts Loom

Automattic, the technology company behind WordPress.com, WooCommerce and Tumblr, has begun laying off employees across several departments, with additional reductions reportedly expected over the coming months, according to TechCrunch, which cited people familiar with the matter.

The layoffs, which have reportedly taken place over at least the past week, have affected teams in communications, social media, WordPress.com and the company’s VIP enterprise business. Automattic has not publicly confirmed the total number of employees affected or provided a detailed account of the reductions.

The reported cuts come as the company navigates leadership changes and financial considerations. Employees across different divisions have reportedly been affected, raising questions about the scale and duration of the restructuring.

Megan Fox, Automattic’s director of communications, announced her departure on LinkedIn last week. She described it as an “unexpected end” after her position was “eliminated,” providing a public indication of the workforce changes.

The company has also experienced turnover in its finance leadership. Earlier this month, TechCrunch reported that interim Chief Financial Officer Jeremy Klaperman had left Automattic just weeks after upheaval within the company’s boardroom.

Automattic co-founder and CEO Matt Mullenweg subsequently suggested in a post on X that Klaperman may have been “offended” by the company’s decision to consider external candidates for the finance chief position. TechCrunch, however, reported that Mullenweg had privately asked Klaperman to reconsider his departure.

Automattic lists its workforce at 1,397 employees on its website. People familiar with the company’s plans told TechCrunch that the layoffs may be implemented gradually over several months rather than through a single round of job cuts.

The reported timeline also coincides with Automattic’s plans to renegotiate its debt in June. Phasing in workforce reductions could help the company improve its fourth-quarter revenue figures ahead of those discussions, according to the report.

Automattic operates several prominent online publishing and e-commerce services, including WordPress.com, WooCommerce and Tumblr. Its products serve a broad range of users, from individual publishers and small businesses to larger enterprise customers.

The combination of reported layoffs, executive departures and upcoming financial negotiations points to a period of significant change for the company. With the full extent of the cuts still undisclosed and further reductions reportedly possible, employees may face continued uncertainty as Automattic adjusts its workforce and financial priorities.