Andela, a company that identifies and develops software developers has said that the 135 staff it asked to go in its recent reoganisation were not “sacked”
Benedite Pambani, PR junior account executive at wimbart.com, public relations agency of the company said “the staff involved were made redundant and were not sacked, being sacked by an organisation means that the person was let go because of their wrongdoings, which is not the case here.”
In a mail to Nigeria CommunicationsWeek, Pambani said “I’d like to ask that you kindly correct the title as the usage of the word “sack” is incorrect”
Earlier in the week the media was awash of news of the disengagement of some staff of the software company in resonse to the coronavirus pandemic.
The cut will affect 10% of its overall staff strength.
According to Tech Cabal, the news was relayed via a teleconference call attended by about 1,300 staff from Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Ghana, Egypt and the U.S by Jeremy Johnson, CEO.
COVID 19 and the ensuing freeze on economic activity have impacted the financial activity and potential of corporations and this has had a chain reaction across the world.
While talking to staffers, Johnson referenced the shrinkage in the company’s customer base as the major reason behind the layoffs.
He said, “While our customer base has held up better than most, the majority have still been impacted by the economic downturn.”
Andela expects to “see churn spike this year as well as a decline in new customers due to the economic uncertainty.” The larger expectation that growth will slow necessitates the cost-cutting measures “to ensure that we make it to the other side,”.
Those laid off are expected to be released from their duties by the 8th of May. However, as a goodwill gesture to ease their exit, the company said it will provide comprehensive severance packages and four months of health coverage.