Twitter lays off 30% of its talent recruitment team: report

New Delhi: Microblogging platform Twitter has laid off 30 percent of its talent recruitment team amid its $44 billion acquisition by Elon Musk, media reported on Friday. A Twitter spokesperson confirmed the layoffs to TechCrunch without disclosing further details or the number of employees affected. Elon Musk’s $44 billion Twitter deal is reportedly in serious trouble.

The laid-off employees will receive severance pay and the company will “reprioritize” the remaining staff.

Earlier, Twitter announced that it would halt most departmental hiring. As Twitter paused hiring, the microblogging platform last month shifted employees from the audio spaces, communities and newsletter verticals to areas that “will have the greatest positive impact on the public conversation.”

Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal in May fired head of consumer products Kayvon Beikpour and head of revenue product Bruce Falk, saying there was now a hiring freeze and Twitter would also freeze spending in most areas. Agrawal said the company will also review all extended offers to determine criticality and those that should be withdrawn.

“We are not planning company-wide layoffs, but leaders will continue to make changes in their organizations to improve efficiency as needed,” Agrawal said in a memo to employees. “Some have questioned why a grumpy duck CEO would make these changes if we were going to be acquired anyway. While I expect the deal to close, we must be prepared for all scenarios and always do what is right for Twitter,” Agrawal had said.

Twitter has paused most hiring and filling, except for business-critical roles designated by “staff” members.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on 08 Jul 2022, 12:58 IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).