The Elon Musk-led firm, SpaceX, has announced that it is going to be shedding 10% of its workforce in order to become a “leaner” company. SpaceX currently employs 6,000 people so the lay off will see about 600 people lose their jobs. SpaceX President, Gwynne Shotwell, announced the cuts to employees via an email, saying that it was a very difficult decision but necessary nonetheless.
In the email, Shotwell wrote:
“To continue delivering for our customers and to succeed in developing interplanetary spacecraft and a global space-based internet, SpaceX must become a leaner company. Either of these developments, even when attempted separately, have bankrupted other organizations. This means we must part ways with some talented and hardworking members of our team. We are grateful for everything they have accomplished and their commitment to SpaceX’s mission. This action is taken only due to the extraordinarily difficult challenges ahead and would not otherwise be necessary.”
According to the LA Times, those being laid off won’t be left entirely in the lurch as SpaceX plans to offer a minimum of eight weeks pay and other benefits to the employees, it will also assist them with career coaching, resume help, and job searches as they seek out new employment.
As mentioned by Shotwell, SpaceX has some pretty important projects coming up including Starlink which will consist of satellites being put into orbit to provide internet connectivity around the world, and a 2023 mission to send Japanese billionaire, Yusaku Maezawa, on a trip around the Moon.
Source: LA Times
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