Canva Layoffs: CEO Offers MacBooks, LinkedIn Premium, $10,000 Grants

Australian design software company Canva has announced a restructuring of its workforce. This change will affect 1,271 employees, which's about 22 percent of Canvas global staff. Canva is doing this because growth has slowed and Canva is ready to make changes, to how it operates.

Canva co-founder and CEO Melanie Perkins shared the news through a message, to employees, which was later published on the company’s newsroom website. Canva co-founder and CEO Melanie Perkins apologized to those affected acknowledging the uncertainty, emotional stress and disruption caused by the decision.

The company is changing its structure. This will affect teams, in all 37 countries where Canva is present. Some workers will be given jobs or asked to move to main office locations. Other workers will need to leave the company.

However, what has caught my attention is Canvas support package, for departing employees. Of only giving standard severance payments Canva has announced several financial, professional and personal benefits to help departing employees navigate their next steps.

What does Canva's exit package include?

Canva promises that every employee who leaves will receive at six months of salary plus all statutory entitlements no matter where they are. Canva will also give up to a year of health insurance in the countries where Canva currently offers that benefit.

Additionally, employees will receive twelve months of Canva Care, the companys Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). Canva Care will cover employees. Will also extend coverage to employee’s family members.

The support also includes career assistance, like one-on-one coaching, interview preparation and a one-year LinkedIn Premium subscription. Canva will also have a part of its Talent Acquisition team help departing employees improve their resumes and get ready, for job interviews.

Another big. Is that workers will be able to keep the MacBooks given to them by the company. This is because some people might not have their laptops to help with finding a new job or doing work in the future.

Canva is also creating an opt‑in alumni talent directory. I think Canva wants to share this directory with investors, business partners and industry contacts so that former employees can find opportunities.

$10,000 grants for employees planning new ventures

One of the unusual parts of the package is the newly announced Canva Collective Fund. With this Canva Collective Fund, people who are leaving the company and are eligible can receive a grant of US$10,000. They can use this grant to start their businesses or to create projects that help their community.

The company says the fund is meant to help employees take their ideas and make them real without the company owning any part of the ideas or the ventures. Employees who are affected by the restructuring will have until December 14 to show they are interested, in the fund.

Even though Canva is cutting jobs I feel that Canva says the support measures it offers are made to recognise that each employee has different circumstances and needs. Canva hopes that the extra help will enable workers who are leaving to handle the change and find opportunities.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kahekashan

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Kahekashan is a passionate technophile with a keen eye for cutting-edge gadgets, emerging technologies, and everything in the digital realm. Raised in a Defence family with strong values and a background in literature, she has consistently pursued excellence in every endeavour. Her last full-time assignment involved content writing with the Indian School of Business.

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