What Exactly is LinkedIn?
LinkedIn is a Microsoft owned company, which specializes in bringing people together, and especially in finding employment. It is an application that is used by millions of Americans daily. This application allows people that are looking for jobs, to automatically connect with an employer via message. It also has an Indeed type system embedded within the app itself. Therefore, this application is certainly serving a great use to the nation, and it takes all hands on deck to make this app work to it’s fullest function. This is also a great way for people to connect in a professional standard.
Layoffs Associated with LinkedIn Reach 700
There has been an influx of layoffs that has been incurred by LinkedIn. This number has reached a staggering 700 employees that have been laid off. “The Microsoft-owned social media platform LinkedIn is laying off nearly 700 employees, it said in a statement Monday,” according to NPR News. This comes as a shocker to many of the employees, as it seemed that they were doing their part to keep the structure of the app in order. Additionally, this can be severely detrimental to those employees, as this job likely provided them with what they have today.
However, LinkedIn themselves have mentioned that they are more than willing to assist these former employees in this hard transition. More so since this was so impromptu, as everything seemed to be going according to plan.
Why Did They Make This Rash Decision?
LinkedIn themselves are saying that they made this decision in an effort to restructure the outlook of the company. They are mostly focusing on the future of the application, and what will be prioritized as well. There are many things that are included in what they define as “restructuring the company.”
“This means adapting our organizational structures to improve agility and accountability, establishing unambiguous ownership and driving improved efficiency and transparency through reduced layering,” stated CNBC News. As the application continues to be used by millions, they want to make it to where it is easier and more comfortable for users.
They are sure that restructuring the application in this way, will make the app a stronger success. However, this comes at the cost of more than 700 jobs. Leaving 700 employees left struggling for a while, as they look for another source of employment.
Can AI Be Contributing To This Decision?
AI can certainly be of help to millions of companies, and is widely being used more than humans themselves. AI, in a way, can be said to be taking over the business world. Additionally, AI can be used to perform difficult tasks, that normally would take humans a much longer time to complete. LinkedIn has also said that they have been implementing a lot more AI within their application to help with certain aspects of the application and other things as well.
“LinkedIn, like many tech companies, has been investing in artificial intelligence. This month, it announced a suite of A.I.-powered products to help with marketing, recruiting and sales,” according to The New York Times. Therefore, it is safe to say that AI may very well be taking part in the reason this decision as made.
Future of LinkedIn
There is a hope that LinkedIn keep their word and continue to support these former employees in this time of need. Additionally, there is a hope that this decision was the right one, and can help further LinkedIn’s success by a major margin. Only time will tell if this is the outcome they are going to have.
Written by David Loran Jr
Sources:
NPR News: LinkedIn is laying off nearly 700 employees
CNBC News: Microsoft-owned LinkedIn lays off nearly 700 employees — read the memo here
The New York Times: LinkedIn Cuts 668 Jobs in Second Layoff Round This Year
Featured and Top Image Courtesy of Focal Foto’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of sue seecof’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
