8x8 Lays Off Workers, Cites ‘Operational Efficiency’

UCaaS provider 8×8 has let go nearly 200 of its workers this week, joining a growing number of technology companies that have instituted layoffs in recent months. Approximately 2,200 people work for the company, so these cuts represent about 10% of 8×8’s workforce.

8×8’s Meghan Keough

Meghan Keough is senior vice president of product and corporate marketing at 8×8.

“As part of a normal business review, we made a small headcount reduction across functions, to drive greater operational efficiency,” she told Channel Futures in an email.

Comments about the layoffs were numerous on LinkedIn.

Amelia Hadfield, senior marketing manager at Druva, worked in a senior marketing role at 8×8 for approximately four years, leaving the company in 2021.

“I just learned there was a substantial layoff of many amazing colleagues I had at 8×8,” she wrote. “I know this is early, but please reach out if you need any introductions.”

Employee Reaction

Jason Feathers is a technical support manager based in Minneapolis with 13 years of experience. Feathers lost his job with the company after less than two years in his position, according to LinkedIn.

He wrote: “I enjoyed working for them and the people I worked with. On to my next career move and hopefully one that sticks for a long time!”

Michael Deneen, a project manager at Aptos, wrote a post advocating for a friend also laid off at 8×8.

“He is close to finishing his security+ certificate and is hoping to get into cybersecurity shortly. In his previous role, he was a technical support engineer,” Deneen wrote. “If anyone in my network is aware of any openings, I’d happily pass those along to him.”

In May of 2020, 8×8 also conducted a round of layoffs. It was the second set of job cuts for the company that year.

On Glassdoor, an anonymous former 8×8 employee wrote then:

“In the two-and-a-half years I was at 8×8, I saw large numbers of layoffs of people who were really good at their jobs. Recently, I looked at a new-hire photo, and a big percentage of them were no longer with the company. A couple of months ago, I was laid off literally 10 minutes after a stellar performance review. My director didn’t know it was going to happen. My VP had no say in the decision. Features/functionality of the product: for a company of this size, it takes a long time to add needed functionality into the solutions. The company is really top-heavy and continues to hire new VPs while laying off at the lower levels.”