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WordPress retaliation impacts community

(lwn.net)
238 points chmaynard | 2 comments | 17 Oct 24 04:06 UTC | HN request time: 0.943s | source
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bullenweg ◴[17 Oct 24 04:49 UTC] No.41866501[source]▶
Rumors are that another round of voluntary layoffs are coming to Automattic today. I am optimistic for the future of WordPress because it looks less and less likely to involve Matt. Matt has created the ideal conditions for a fork to succeed: WordPress (the software) is a fixture of the internet, it is never going away no matter how much Matt sabotages it but Matt's control over it is not a foregone conclusion given all Matt really controls is the brand. The name and leadership may change, but WordPress will live on.
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serial_dev ◴[17 Oct 24 04:59 UTC] No.41866545[source]▶
I have been thinking about the alignment offer that Automattic has offered its employees. It’s hard for me to imagine any scenario at any company where I would not take the money and go. Six months of salary is a lot of money for just simply walking away.

To be completely honest, after seeing everything that has transpired, I would be worried that the offer is just a lie, a way to out the detractors. I’m wondering if that’s the reason less than 10% accepted the first offer.

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simonw ◴[17 Oct 24 05:20 UTC] No.41866647[source]▶
If you're a PHP developer with expertise in WordPress Automattic is pretty much your version of FAANG - I can totally understand why people wouldn't want to trade even six months salary for never being able to work there again.
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1. pmontra ◴[17 Oct 24 05:42 UTC] No.41866745[source]▶
The 8% of the company left. IMHO it's not uncommon than the 8% of any company is willing to leave at any time because of any reason. They got a payoff so they anticipated their move. Some of them could have been even on Matt's side, some not.
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2. 4hg4ufxhy ◴[17 Oct 24 07:07 UTC] No.41867147[source]▶
Matt even dunked on DHH that only 8% left automattic, while 30% left badecamp back when they banned politics. Nevermind the fact that DHHs offer was without a timelimit, allowing people to figure out their options. Also the job markets couldn't be more different.

However, I do think a fair amount of automattic employees do not want to leave since their benefits seem actually really nice. Not many companies provide constant pay regardless of your cost of living, so I commend them for that. It could be impossible to find an equivalent job for non US employees, so 6 months pay for leaving in this market is hardly worth it, unless like you said you had plans to do it anyway.