Big Tech’s yearning to return to its move-fast startup culture roots has resulted in a string of mass layoffs this year, with Spotify the latest offender. Chief victims along the way have been those in HR functions, whose stars are fading in the eyes of Silicon Valley CEOs.
Last month, CEO Daniel Ek announced the shedding of 1,500 employees. As explanation for his decision, Business Insider reported that Ek published an internal memo blaming the firings on employees who are “dedicated to supporting work and even doing work around the work rather than contributing to opportunities with real impact.”
Spotify’s leadership has framed the layoffs as a necessary step to streamline operations and focus on core business priorities. But the move is symptomatic of an issue that has permeated Silicon Valley since its inception: an inability to let go of the startup mentality.
Sanctity of product and the war on HR roles
The Spotify memo suggests those in non-tech roles, such as human resources (HR) and finance, will be the first to go within the workforce. This is repeating a common…