8% of Automattic Employees Opt to Resign Amid Voluntary Severance Offer

Automattic, the parent company of WordPress, has seen a notable shift in its workforce, with 8.4% of its employees choosing to resign following a voluntary severance package announced by CEO and WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg. The offer included a severance payout of either $30,000 or six months' salary, whichever was higher. Out of Automattic’s workforce, 159 individuals accepted the offer and decided to leave the company.

Context Behind the Offer

The resignations come in the context of a broader effort by Mullenweg to streamline the organization amid internal challenges and controversies. However, Mullenweg has emphasized that this move was part of a strategy to ensure that those who remain at Automattic are committed to its long-term goals. The voluntary severance was designed as an option for employees who felt it was time to move on, and Mullenweg expressed gratitude both to those leaving and those staying, noting the significant sacrifice made by employees who opted to turn down a combined offer of $126 million in severance.

Reactions from Departing Employees

While some might speculate that these resignations reflect dissatisfaction with Mullenweg’s leadership, the public reactions from many employees suggest otherwise. Several employees departing the company praised Mullenweg and Automattic, indicating that their decisions were more about personal and professional growth than discontent.

One former employee, involved in building machine learning and generative AI infrastructure, shared his bittersweet feelings on social media. He expressed sadness over leaving but spoke highly of his time at Automattic:

"Today was my last day at Automattic. I spent the last 2 years building large scale ML and generative AI infra and products... I’m going to spend the next month taking a break, getting married, and visiting family in Australia. I have some really fun ideas of things to build that I’ve been storing up for a while. Now I get to build them."

Another high-profile departure was Naoko Takano, a 14-year veteran of Automattic and a prominent figure in the WordPress community, where she played a key role in initiatives like Five for the Future. Takano, who contributed to improving contributor experiences within the WordPress ecosystem, announced her departure on X (formerly Twitter), though without much elaboration:

"Today was my last day at Automattic. I’m actively exploring new career opportunities. If you know of any positions that align with my skills and experience!"

Her departure adds weight to the overall significance of the resignations, particularly given her involvement in key WordPress programs.

Five for the Future Program: A Source of Tension

One of the underlying issues that has garnered attention within the WordPress community is the Five for the Future initiative, which encourages companies using WordPress to contribute 5% of their resources to the project’s development. This program was central to some of Mullenweg’s recent criticisms of WP Engine, a major WordPress hosting company, which he accused of not contributing enough to the community. The controversy surrounding this and other disagreements could have influenced the broader company culture during this period.

Mullenweg’s Reflections on the Resignations

In a personal blog post, Mullenweg acknowledged the emotional toll of the resignations but expressed optimism for the future. He highlighted the bittersweet nature of seeing long-term employees leave, while also appreciating the opportunities this transition brings for both the company and those departing.

“It was an emotional roller coaster of a week. The day you hire someone you aren’t expecting them to resign or be fired... However now, I feel much lighter. I’m grateful and thankful for all the people who took the offer, and even more excited to work with those who turned down $126M to stay. As the kids say, LFG!”

The Road Ahead for Automattic

Despite the departure of a significant portion of its workforce, Automattic appears set to forge ahead with renewed focus. Those who remain are viewed as committed to the company's evolving mission, and Mullenweg has expressed enthusiasm for the future of Automattic’s leadership and innovation.

This moment also provides an opportunity for Automattic to re-align itself, especially in light of its ongoing influence over the WordPress ecosystem and the open-source community at large. The company's commitment to supporting projects like WordPress and fostering innovation through initiatives such as Five for the Future continues to be a central part of its strategy, with or without the employees who have moved on.